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 Kokura and Niigata Racecourses:
Saturday, September 2, 2023
5th-KOK, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
JASPER NOIR (c, 2, Frosted–Funny Bay, by Medaglia d'Oro) cost just $35,000 as a weanling at the 2021 Keeneland November sale, but grew up the right was and was purchased by trainer Hideyuki Mori for owner Kazuo Kato, the connections of Japanese MGSW Jasper Krone–a potentially GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint-bound son of Frosted–for $280,000 after covering his furlong in :9 4/5 at this year's OBS March sale. A mid-March foal, the chestnut is out of an unraced half-sister to MGSW Stanford (Malibu Moon) and SW/MGSP Hedge Fund (Super Saver). B-Nina Theodora Camperlengo (KY)
5th-NII, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT
ECORO NEO (c, 2, Bernardini–Smoke Signals, by Street Sense), a $110,000 Keeneland September acquisition last fall, breezed an eighth of a mile in a slick :9 4/5 and was hammered down to trainer Hideyuki Mori for $300,000 at OBS this past March. The Apr. 19 foal is a half-brother to MSP Smokie Eyes (Nyquist) and is out of a Grade III-placed daughter of Unspoken Word (Catienus), a three-time stakes winner and runner-up in the 2007 GI La Brea S. B-Kathleen Schweizer & Daniel Burke (KY)
Sunday, September 3, 2023
2nd-KOK, ¥10,480,000 ($72k), Maiden, 2yo, 1200mT
ECORO GAIA (c, 2, Speightstown–Charge of Angels, by She's a Winner) was unplaced on his career debut, but improved nicely to finish runner-up in a 1400-meter maiden over yielding Chukyo turf July 1. A $120,000 KEESEP purchase, the dark bay is out of a daughter of the late She's a Winner, whose notable produce include GISW Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat), MGSW Lord of the Game (Saint Ballado), GSW Dramedy (Distorted Humor) and SW Sonoma Cat (Storm Cat). This is also the female family of Grade I winners Imagining, Girolamo, Super Saver, etc. B-Spry Family Farm (KY)
11th-KOK, ¥58.6m ($403k), Kokura Nisai S.-G3, 2yo, 1200mT
MAPLE GANG (c, 2, War Front–Crimson Maple, by Rahy) was well-beaten on his nine-furlong turf debut, but cut back to a dirt sprint to graduate at second asking July 30 (video, SC 4). A half-brother to five-time stakes winner Goldwood (Medaglia d'Oro), the $200,000 KEESEP yearling is out of a daughter of the great Maplejinsky (Nijinsky II), the dam of the legendary Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom {Fr}) and granddam of MGISW Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat) and GSW Tale of Silence (Tale of the Cat). Another daughter of Maplejinsky produced GI Breeders' Cup Distaff upsetter Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold) and MGSW/GISP Country Hideaway (Seeking the Gold). B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY)
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