By Alan Carasso
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 this weekend running at Kokura, Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses:
Saturday, August 19, 2023
3rd-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
EMBLEM BOMB (c, 2, St Patrick's Day–Jelly Cable, by Sky Mesa) is out of a stakes-placed daughter of black-type winner Linda Coqueta (Rubiano), the dam of three-time SP Alfarabi (Yes It's True) and GSP Capo (Capote). This Mar. 18 foal failed to find a new home when bidding stalled at $15,000 at last year's OBS October Sale, but he became the second-priciest 2-year-old from the first crop of this full-brother to American Pharoah when hammering to Hideyuki Mori for $155,000 at this year's OBS March Sale (21 sold/25 ring) after working in :10 flat. B-Brent & Crystal Fernung (FL)
6th-KOK, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1700m
JASPER ROBUSTO (c, 2, Khozan–Prize Informant, by Marciano) was purchased by Blaz Perez Stable for $27,000 at OBSOCT last fall, but blossomed over the next several months and was sold to Mori on behalf of the 'Jasper' owner Kazuo Kato for $265,000 at OBSMAR, the best of 25 juveniles (33 ring) by the sire during this season's breeze-ups (:9 4/5). The bay is out of a stakes-winning half-sister to Wise Answer (Wised Up), who nearly swept the Florida Stallion S. series in 2007, capped by a 10-length romp in the In Reality S. at Calder. Rivermont Farm bough Prize Informant for $9,500 in foal to Valiant Minister at the 2019 OBS Winter Mixed Sale. B-Rivermont Farm (FL)
Sunday, August 20, 2023
5th-KOK, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
PIKARI (f, 2, Twirling Candy–Laudation, by Congrats) is the second foal to the races for her dam, a stakes winner at two for Jerry Durant and Steve Asmussen and later acquired by Peter O'Callaghan's Woods Edge Farm for $150,000 with this foal in utero at Keeneland November in 2020. Produced by a half-sister to this year's G3 UAE Oaks heroine Mimi Kakushi (City of Light) and MSW Moment Is Right (Medaglia d'Oro), this March foal fetched $265,000 from Ciaran Dunne's Red Wings Enterprises at last year's Keeneland September Sale and lit up the tote at OBSMAR to the tune of $900,000 after working a furlong in :9 4/5. B-Woods Edge Farm LLC (KY)
5th-SAP, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT
KINGS CROWN (JPN) (c, 2, Yoshida {Jpn}–Tulips Galore, by Giant's Causeway) is the first Japanese starter for his WinStar-based stallion and was acquired in utero for $45,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. The unplaced dam is a half-sister to New York-bred stakes winner Gambling Girl (Dialed In), runner-up in this year's GI Kentucky Oaks, third in the GI CCA Oaks and entered for Saturday's GI Alabama S. at Saratoga. The colt's third dam Eventail (Lear Fan), a half-sister to Take Charge Lady (Dehere), is responsible for Heart's Cry's dual Japanese listed winner Strong Souther (Jpn) as well as GSW Straight Story (Giant's Causeway). B-Yuki Dendo
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