Kokura Nisai Goes to Stormy Atlantic Colt

The G3 Kokura Nisai S. marked the first black-type victory for Asakusa Genki and second win in a row for the U.S.-bred.  Purchased for $210,000 out of the 2016 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the Gainesway consignment by Shadai Farm, Asakusa Genki was fourth on debut in a Chukyo newcomers' race over the dirt July 8, but took a big step forward when second over this course in his grass bow July 30. Off the mark going this trip locally Aug. 13, the Keiko Tahara-owned colt was sent off at 6-1 trying group level for the first time Sunday and did not disappoint. Breaking widest bar one, Asakusa Genki perched in a close up third while well off the fence behind a half-mile in :44.9. Edging up into contention 200 metres from the line, he clawed his way to the head of affairs and held off all comers to salute by 1 1/4 lengths. Iron Claw was a neck to the good of Burning Pesca (Jpn) in second.

Pedigree Notes…

Asakusa Genki is the 103rd stakes winner and 43rd graded/group stakes winner for his sire Stormy Atlantic, who held court for $15,000 at Hill 'n' Dale Farm in Kentucky this year. The winner is also a full-brother to Assateague, who landed the GIII Parx Racing Dr James Penny Memorial H., as well as a half-brother to GSWs and GISPs Kindergarden Kid (Dynaformer) and Rainha Da Bateria (Broken Vow) and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up He's Had Enough (Tapit). Since foaling Asakusa Genki, Amelia was barren to Tapit in 2016, but she has a weanling filly by Empire Maker and was covered again by that Gainesway resident later in the spring. Asakusa Genki's second dam is MGSW Aquilegia (Alydar), herself responsible for Group 3 winner and MG1SP sire Bertolini (Danzig), SW Alchemilla (Deputy Minister) and the unraced Alittlebitearly (Thunder Gulch). The last named's claim to fame is as the dam of GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Bayern (Offlee Wild), who also stands at Hill 'n' Dale. His third dam is the blue hen Courtly Dee (Never Bend). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

Sunday, Kokura, Japan
KOKURA NISAI S.-G3, ¥59,510,000 (US$539,681/£416,706/€455,041), Kokura, 9-3, 2yo, 1200mT, 1:09.10, fm.
1–ASAKUSA GENKI, 119, c, 2, by Stormy Atlantic
                1st Dam: Amelia (SW-US, $179,565), by Dixieland Band
                2nd Dam: Aquilegia, by Alydar
                3rd Dam: Courtly Dee, by Never Bend
*1st stakes win. O-Keiko Tahara; B-Alexander-Groves-Matz
LLC; T-Hidetaka Otonashi; J-Yutaka Take; ¥31,637,000. Lifetime
Record: 4-2-1-0, ¥39,737,000. *1/2 to Kindergarden Kid
(Dynaformer), GSW & GISP, $341,650; He's Had Enough
(Tapit), GISP, $492,910; Rainha Da Bateria (Broken Vow),
MGSW & GISP, $617,960; and a full to Assateague, GSW,
$398,059; **210,000 Ylg '16 KEESEP. Click for the
   eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A.
2–Iron Claw (Jpn), 119, c, 2, Admire Moon (Jpn)–Yamano
Irie(Jpn), by Grass Wonder. O-Soichiro Fujii; B-Champions
Farm; ¥12,182,000.
3–Burning Pesca (Jpn), 119, c, 2, Pyro–Meisho Ganz (Jpn), by
Daiwa Major (Jpn). O-Shintaro Yamada; B-Mishima Bokujo;
¥7,891,000.
Margins: 1 1/4, NK, NK; Odds: 6.00, 11.60, 19.20.
Also Ran: Weiser (Jpn), Iikoto Zukushi (Jpn), Peisha Luas (Jpn), Mozu Superflare, Susan Don (Jpn), Taisei Sonic (Jpn), Orostachys (Jpn), Ruri Hari (Jpn), Citrica (Jpn), Namura Appare (Jpn), T M Suguremon (Jpn), Namura Banzai (Jpn), Jun Dream (Jpn), Nishino Dante (Jpn), Floral Citrus (Jpn).
Click for the Racing Post chart. VIDEO.