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 Hanshin Racecourses. Click here for our preview of Sunday's first Group 1 of the new year, the February S., featuring US-breds Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid), Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) and Jasper Prince (Violence):
Saturday, February 18, 2023
7th-HSN, ¥15,200,000, Allowance, 4yo/up, 2000mT
AIR ANEMOI (c, 4, Point of Entry–Nokaze, by Empire Maker) broke his maiden on debut over this course and distance in December 2021 (video, SC 9) and went missing after finishing down the field in Group 3 company early last season. The homebred is one of five winners from five to race from his ultra-productive dam, who also boasts GSW Air Almas (Majestic Warrior), SW Air Fanditha (Hat Trick {Jpn}), three-time winner Air Sage (Point of Entry) and the promising 3-year-old colt Air Meteora (Goldencents). Nokaze is a half-sister to the stakes-winning dam of GSW Yuugiri (Shackleford). B-Sekie & Tsunebumi Yoshihara (KY)
8th-HSN, ¥14,880,000, Allowance, 3yo, 1800m
KISS ON THE CHEEK (JPN) (f, 3, Curlin–Eskimo Kisses, by To Honor and Serve), whose GI Alabama S.-winning dam was sold to Shadai Farm for $2.3 million with this filly in utero at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale, got her career off on a high note with a two-length victory in a nine-furlong newcomers' event at Chukyo Jan. 15 (video, SC 4). Eskimo Kisses, who was also second in the GI Central Bank Ashland S. and GII Fair Grounds Oaks in 2018, is a granddaughter of GI Kentucky Derby heroine Winning Colors (Caro {Ire}). B-Shadai Farm
Sunday, February 19, 2023
3rd-TOK, ¥14,880,000, Allowance, 3yo, 1400m
MOZU AKABOSU (c, 3, Quality Road–India, by Hennessy), a half-brother to connections' February S. and G1 Yasuda Kinen winner Mozu Ascot (Frankel {GB}), broke his maiden at first asking going this distance at Chukyo Jan. 28 (video, SC 5) and was given an entry for Sunday's Listed Hyacinth S., but opts for this one-win allowance test. A $200,000 Keeneland September purchase, Mozu Akabosu is out of a half-sister to the dam of MGISW To Honor and Serve (Bernardini) and GISW Angela Renee (Bernardini). B-Summer Wind Equine LLC (KY)
5th-TOK, ¥11,850,000, Newcomers, 3yo, 1600m
GIUOCO PIANO (c, 3, Justify–Haddie Be Good, by Silver Deputy), a $400,000 OBS March acquisition by Katsumi Yoshida, is the latest foal to make the races out of a two-time stakes-winning dam who has already accounted for SW Story To Tell (Bluegrass Cat) and was bought back on a bid of $290,000 with this colt in utero at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The Feb. 17 foal, whose female family also includes GI La Brea S. winner Sam's Sister (Brother Derek), will carry the silks of Kazumi Yoshida and is to be ridden by the visiting Theo Bachelot. B-Craig B Singer (KY)
【期待の大物…】水曜朝の #ジオッコピアノ（牡、田中博、父ジャスティファイ、母ハディービーグッド）です🐴昨年のＯＢＳマーチセールで吉田勝己氏（ノーザンファーム代表）が４０万ドルで落札💵吉田和美氏の勝負服でデビュー予定です【美浦捜査官・Ｔ】#GiuocoPiano #HaddieBeGood @OBSSales https://t.co/cAqwZA9cuq pic.twitter.com/6dA8ojIupL
— 「極ウマPOG捜査官」ニッカン全力２歳馬追跡 (@gokuumapog) January 20, 2023
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