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 Tokyo and Kyoto Racecourses:
Saturday, May 4, 2024
9th-TOK, ¥34,200,000 ($223k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m
SONIC STAR (c, 3, Into Mischief–Carolina Bertie, by Speightstown), a debut winner over nine furlongs last September, was only 11th in the Cattleya S. (allowance) over this track and distance Nov. 25 but bounced back with a handy allowance success Jan. 27 (see below, SC 14). A $300,000 Keeneland September yearling, the dark bay colt is out of an unraced half-sister to three-time Grade I winner Beach Patrol (Lemon Drop Kid)–now standing in Japan–and the deeper female family includes classy Klein racemares MGSW/GISP Hurricane Bertie (Storm Boot) and MGSW/GISP Allamerican Bertie (Quiet American). Joao Moreira takes the call. B-Nancy C Shuford (KY)
Sunday, May 5, 2024
2nd-KYO, ¥10,480,000 ($68k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m
PONT NEUF (f, 3, Ghostzapper) is a daughter of Promise Me Silver (Silver City), who won the 2015 GIII Eight Belles S., who was purchased by prominent New York breeders Chester and Mary Broman for $320,000 with this filly in utero at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. Since selling for $100,000 at last year's OBS March Sale, Pont Neuf's 2-year-old half-brother Win Me Gold (Game Winner) changed hands for $190,000 at the recently concluded OBS April Sale and is already on the worktab at Los Alamitos. B-Chester & Mary Broman (NY)
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.