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 three-day weekend, which features the resumption of racing at Tokyo and at Hanshin:
Saturday, October 8, 2022
4th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1300m
GRAN PHARAOH (c, 2, American Pharoah–Sweet Tooth Sweety, by Smarty Jones) was bought back on a bid of $120,000 at last year's Fasig-Tipton October Yearling Sale, but the New Jersey-bred worked an eighth of a mile in :10 flat at this year's OBS March Sale and was hammered down for $350,000. A half-brother to recent Monmouth maiden romper Sadie Baby (California Chrome), the May 3 foal is out of a daughter of this breeder's very fast Bam Bam Bull (Holy Bull), also the granddam of SW Factorofwon (The Factor). B-Dennis Drazin (NJ)
#グランファラオ#ウトウトお昼寝#寝方がかわいい pic.twitter.com/4ditLtzFBH
— JRA高橋義忠厩舎 (@YoshitadaStable) September 21, 2022
Sunday, October 9, 2022
3rd-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400m
NEFERURE (f, 2, American Pharoah–Harmony Lodge, by Hennessy) is the latest to the races from her GI Ballerina H.-winning dam, whose other notable produce include SW & MGSP Armistice Day (Declaration of War), Saudi Arabian sire GSW Stratford Hill (A.P. Indy) and the dam of GIII Peter Pan S. hero and 'TDN Rising Star' We the People (Constitution). The filly's second dam, Grade III winner Win Crafty Lady (Crafty Prospector), also bred MGSW/GISP Graeme Hall (Dehere), GSW producer Win McCool (Giant's Causeway) and MSW Win's Fair Lady (Dehere). Neferure fetched $310,000 at Keeneland September last year. B-Glenvale Stud (KY)
ECORO ARES (c, 2, Unified–Red Hot Tweet, by Heatseeker {Ire}), bred on the same cross as Gun Runner, was a $72,000 KEESEP acquisition and matured into a $210,000 OBSMAR breezer after covering a furlong in :9 4/5. The Mar. 31 foal is out of a daughter of SP Bird Chatter (Birdonthewire), also the dam of SP Twitter Pie (Harlan's Holiday). B-St Simon Place & Scott Stephens (KY)
4th-TOK, ¥13,400,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600m
EPLUCHAGE (JPN) (c, 2, Justify–Champagne Room, by Broken Vow) is the first Japanese-foaled produce for the 2016 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and Eclipse Award winner, whose 3-year-old daughter Cordon Rouge (American Pharoah) won for the second time in four career starts just last weekend at Chukyo. Champagne Room is a half-sister to the 3-year-old colt Fidele (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), a two-time winner and Group 3-placed as a juvenile in Japan. Christophe Lemaire will carry the silks of Sunday Racing Co. for this debut. B-Northern Racing
Look at the size of this 2yo colt:
Unraced 2c EPLUCHAGE (Justify x Champagne Room🇺🇸) debuts Sunday over 1600m at Tokyo
Fast work yesterday under Lemaire 🇫🇷 on the Miho cicle wood.
Conceived 🇺🇸, born 🇯🇵
Weighs over 600kg apparently, a massive colt.pic.twitter.com/roPggqyRhd
— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) October 6, 2022
BLADE RUNNER (JPN) (f, 2, Gun Runner–Bamboche, by Tapit) is out of a daughter of GISW Diplomat Lady (Forestry) and was purchased in utero by this breeder for $100,000 at the Keeneland November Sale in 2019. From the extended family of GSW Dream Play (Hennessy) and her GSW/G1SP son Zulu Land (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), the Mar. 22 foal is bred on the identical cross as recent GI Cotillion S. winner Society, GSW Wicked Halo and 'TDN Rising Star' Echo Again. B-Yuki Dendo
Another with prime 🇺🇸 bloodlines:
2yo filly BLADE RUNNER (Gun Runner x Bamboche (Tapit)) debuts in same 1600m Newcomers as monster EPLUCHAGE
BLADE RUNNER is #1243 (left of screen) in this solid workout clip up the Miho woodchip slope
Conceived 🇺🇸,born🇯🇵pic.twitter.com/knIznYnFXO https://t.co/6y1SC9l0Rs
— Graham Pavey (@LongBallToNoOne) October 6, 2022
Monday, October 10, 2022
5th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT
DESEO (JPN) (f, 2, Union Rags–Tapit Together, by Tapit) is the first produce for her dam, a daughter of GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf and GI First Lady S. heroine Forever Together (Belong to Me), who was purchased by JS Company with this filly in utero at KEENOV in 2019. Champion Forever Together is also the dam of GSP Truly Together (Smart Strike) and British stakes-placed Smart Together (Smart Strike). B-KS Holdings Inc
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