By Alan Carasso
In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Kokura, Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses:
Saturday, August 12, 2023
2nd-NII, ¥10,480,000 ($72k), Maiden, 2yo, 1800mT
ROCK CITY BOY (c, 2, City of Light–Mississippi Coast, by Super Saver) was acquired in utero for $125,000 at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale and is out of a winning half-sister to the stakes-winning No Use Denying (Maria's Mon), the dam of 2019 GI Spinaway S. and GII Adirondack S. heroine Perfect Alibi (Sky Mesa) as well as GSP Noble Thought (Harlan's Holiday). Third dam Missed the Wedding, a half-sister to Chris Evert, produced former Pin Oak GSW turf star Green Means Go (Green Dancer) and GI Test S. victress Missed the Storm (Storm Cat). B-Yuki Dendo
3rd-KOK, ¥10,480,000 ($72k), Maiden, 3yo, 1000m
A SURE VICTORY (JPN) (f, 3, Justify–A Raving Beauty {Ger}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}) makes a belated first trip to the races Saturday afternoon. Her dam was a two-time German listed winner and champion in that country at age four before relocating to the barn of Chad Brown, for whom she won the GI Just A Game S. and GI First Lady S. while finishing third to stablemate Sistercharlie (Ire) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) in the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf. Oiwake Farm's Haruya Yoshida acquired A Raving Beauty for $2 million at Fasig-Tipton November in 2018 and she was covered by Justify prior to her export to Japan. B-Haruya Yoshida
Sunday, August 13, 2023
12th-SAP, ¥15,200,000 ($105k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1700m
DOUBLE JOKE (c, 3, Practical Joke–Double Date, by Rahy) was beaten into second by recent Listed Japan Dirt Derby runner-up Kirinji (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) Feb. 12 before defeating fellow US-bred Mystic Lore (Arrogate) to break his maiden two weeks later (see below, SC 7) and was most recently unplaced in the G3 Mainichi Hai on the turf in late March. An $80,000 purchase as a weanling at FTKNOV in 2020, the chestnut is out of a half-sister to Canadian Horse of the Year and MGISW Peaks and Valleys (Mt. Livermore) and MSW/MGSP Alternate (Seattle Slew), the dam of GISW Higher Power (Medaglia d'Oro) and MGSW Alternation (Distorted Humor). B-William Humphries & Altair Farms LLC (KY)
12th-KOK, ¥15,200,000 ($105k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1000m
JASPER ROYAL (c, 3, Violence–Sumthingtotalkabt, by Mutakddim) is bred to be a quick one, as his 10-time stakes-winning half-sister Lady Shipman (Midshipman) produced GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint hero Golden Pal (Uncle Mo). A $140,000 KEENOV weanling, $170,000 FTKJUL buyback and $140,000 OBS March graduate, the chestnut has never been worse than third in his four career starts to date and exits a facile maiden victory going this track and distance in his most recent appearance Feb. 4 (video, SC 4). B-SF Bloodstock (KY)
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