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 Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses, including the first foal from a big-figure Keeneland November purchase:
Saturday, January 14, 2023
4th-CKO, ¥11,850,000, Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m
LA LA BELLEVILLE (f, 3, Union Rags–Divine Praises, by Medaglia d'Oro) is the latest to make the races out of a winning daughter of SW Grand Prayer (Grand Slam), who is also the dam of MGSW & GISP Valid (Medaglia d'Oro); GISW Malibu Prayer (Malibu Moon); and Grand Love (Gun Runner), third in last year's GIII Pocahontas S. A $130,000 Keeneland September grad, the dark bay is a half-sister to the commonly owned La La Chandon (Street Sense), a maiden winner at second asking in Japan in 2021. B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC (KY)
REGALO FIORI (JPN) (f, 3, West Coast–Legallini, by Hard Spun) was acquired in utero for $80,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale and is maternal granddaughter of MGSW/GISP Dust and Diamonds (Vindication), whose son Do Deuce (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) won the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity at two and last year's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby). B-Hatakeyama Stud Farm
Sunday, January 15, 2023
3rd-CKO, ¥11,850,000, Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m
KISS ON THE CHEEK (JPN) (f, 3, Curlin–Eskimo Kisses, by To Honor and Serve) is the first produce from her dam, who took down the colors of Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) in the 2018 GI Alabama S. and was purchased by Shadai Farm with this filly in utero for $2.3 million to rank as the second highest-priced offering of the 2019 Keeneland November Sale. A half-sister to Grade I-placed Silver Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), Eskimo Kisses was produced by Silver Colors (Mr. Greeley), a daughter of champion 3-year-old filly and GI Kentucky Derby heroine Winning Colors (Caro {Ire}), who is also the granddam of two-time Japanese stakes winner Cheerful Smile (Jpn) (Sunday Silence). B-Shadai Farm
6th-NKY, ¥11,850,000, Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m
BOLD ZONE (c, 3, Mendelssohn–Halo Dolly, by Popular), closely related to Grade III-winning turf sprinter Barraza (Into Mischief), was an unfinished product when hammering for $40,000 at KEESEP in 2021, but improved nicely and fetched $280,000 from Katsumi Yoshida at OBS March last year after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5. Two-time graded winner Halo Dolly brought $300,000 from Spendthrift Farm at KEENOV in 2014 and was sold in foal to Authentic for $110,000 at the same event in 2021. B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY)
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