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 Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses. Being a three-day weekend on the JRA, Japanese results will appear in next Wednesday's TDN:
Saturday, September 16, 2023
4th-NKY, ¥13,720,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
SORREL BULLET (c, 2, Malibu Moon–Curluck, by Curlin), a $310,000 purchase by Katsumi Yoshida out of last year's Keeneland September sale, is out of a full-sister to the multiple Grade III-placed Lucky Curlin. The Jan. 31 foal's stakes-winning third dam Play Ballado (Saint Ballado) was responsible for SW Sweet Seventeen (Hard Spun), whose son Delta Barows (Into Mischief) was placed in Group 2 company in Japan. Of Malibu Moon's 23 Japanese winners (28 runners), four have succeeded at stakes level, including Paraiba Tourmaline, winner of this year's Listed Kanto Oaks on the dirt for owner Kazumi Yoshida. Sorrel Bullet carries the Silk Racing colors with the visiting Joao Moreira to ride. B-St Simon Place LLC & Scott Stephens (KY)
Sunday, September 17, 2023
5th-NKY, ¥13,720,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT
SOKYU (JPN) (f, 2, Arrogate–Hightap, by Tapit) looks to become the sixth winner from eight to race from her dam, the 2009 GIII Iowa Oaks victress who was purchased by Big Red Farm with this filly in utero for $350,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. A May 2 foal, Sokyu–bred on the same cross as GI Belmont S. and GI Travers S. hero Arcangelo–is a half-sister to Halladay (War Front), all-the-way winner of the 2020 GI Fourstardave H. at Saratoga. Arrogate is the sire of 11 winners from 13 starters in Japan. B-Big Red Farm
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