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. The weekend's racing is highlighted by a high-class renewal of the G1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Toyko, and with plenty of U.S.-bred activity, here are the horses of interest for Saturday running at Tokyo and Hanshin Racecourses. Sunday's runners of note will appear in Saturday's TDN:
Saturday, October 29, 2022
1st-TOK, ¥9,900,000 ($68k), Maiden, 2yo, 1600m
MODERNIZE QUEEN (f, 2, Distorted Humor–Never Grow Old, by Scat Daddy), a $180,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, is the first foal to the races for her dam, sold for $100,000 in foal to California Chrome at Keeneland November in 2018. Never Grow Old is a winning daughter of Chilean Group 1 winner Noches de Rosa (Chi) (Stagecraft {GB}), who defeated fan favorite Megahertz (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in the 2004 GI Gamely Breeders' Cup H. when trained by Richard Mandella for Gerald Ford's Diamond A Racing Corp. Breeders' Cup-winning jockey Yuga Kawada takes the ride on the chestnut, whose lone start resulted in distant fourth-place effort over nine furlongs at Niigata Aug. 7. B-Grantley Acres (KY)
11th-HSN, Swan S.-G2, ¥113m ($772k), 3yo/up, 1400mT
LOTUS LAND (m, 5, Point of Entry–Little Miss Muffet, by Freud) kicks off her autumn preparation in this spot which connections could use as a springboard to loftier targets at home and/or abroad. Victorious in six of her 15 lifetime appearances, the bay was a winner in Group 3 company last season over a mile and has proven her versatility this season with success in the G3 Kyoto Himba S. (video, SC 7) in February at this intermediate trip ahead of a fast-closing second in the G1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen (1200m) (video, SC 9). She was last seen finishing 10th, but not beaten far, in the G1 Yasuda Kinen back over a mile in June and holds entries for the G1 Longines Hong Kong Mile and G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint in December. A start in next month's G1 Mile Championship could also be on the cards. B-Dr Aaron Sones & Dr Naoya Yoshida (KY)
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