Expensive Liam's Map Duo Debut at Nakayama

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes 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 Sunday running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses:

4th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
SONIC STAR (c, 2, Into Mischief–Carolina Bertie, by Speightstown) is the first foal from his unraced dam, a half-sister to three-time Grade I winner Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid), who has been represented by 36 winners from his two crops to race in Japan. A $300,000 purchase by Katsumi Yoshida at Keeneland September last year, the Feb. 5 foal hails from the family of MGSWs Hurricane Bertie (Storm Boot) and Allamerican Bertie (Quiet American). Yuga Kawada has the call. B-Nancy C Shuford (KY)

DOBBIACO (c, 2, Street Boss–Rubindy, by Bernardini) fetched just $25,000 as a KEESEP yearling, but improved dramatically and was hammered down for $450,000 at OBS March after breezing a furlong in :10 flat. There is pedigree to boot, as Rubindy is a half-sister to GSW Mo Tom (Uncle Mo); SW/MGISP Beautician (Dehere); MGSW Red Ruby (Tiznow); and SW Bella Castani (Big Brown). B-Bonne Chance Farm LLC (KY)

4th-NKY, ¥13,720,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m
GRAN ORCA (c, 2, Liam's Map–Layla, by Union Rags) was the joint most-expensive of his sire's 58 yearlings sold (75 ring) in 2022 when hammering to TN Racing for $625,000 at Keeneland September 12 months ago. The dark bay's dam, an impressive maiden winner at first asking over six furlongs, is a full-sister to GI Santa Anita H. winner Express Train, who graduated by better than 14 lengths in his second career start. Third dam November Snow (Storm Cat) won the 1992 GI Alabama S. B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY)

HISTORIAI (c, 2, Liam's Map–Cara Bella, by Ghostzapper) sold to Katsumi Yoshida for $525,000 at Keeneland September last year, the third-priciest yearling by his sire. A half-brother to GISW Silent Poet (Silent Name {Jpn}), the Mar. 31 foal is out of a half-sister to 2000 GI Preakness S. winner Red Bullet (Unbridled) and SW Millennium Allstar (Meadowlake). Stone Farm acquired the unraced Cara Bella for $60,000 in foal to Silent Name at Keeneland November in 2017. B-Stone Farm (KY)