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 Chukyo and Tokyo Racecourses:
Saturday, January 29, 2022
4th-CKO, ¥11,400,000 ($99k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m
CUTE VILLAIN (f, 3, Arrogate–She Be Wild, by Offlee Wild) is the latest foal out of the Eclipse Award-winning juvenile filly of 2009 and cost Katsumi Yoshida $550K at last year's Fasig-Tipton Florida sale after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 flat (see below). The Mar. 31 foal becomes the ninth Japanese starter for her late sire, six of which have already tasted success at the races. That number includes wide-margin debut winner Jasper Great, who is out of a mare by Offlee Wild's sire, Wild Again. B-Nancy Mazzoni (KY)
4th-TOK, ¥14,250,000 ($124k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m
FOOLISH HOBBY (f, 3, Arrogate–Flatter Up, by Flatter) is another of those half-dozen Arrogate winners in Japan, having led home an exacta for the sire when besting next-out graduate Shailene on 1800-meter debut at Hanshin Nov. 27 (, SC 7). The first foal from a Grade III-placed mare, Foolish Hobby fetched $260K at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase and matured into a $450K FTFMAR breezer (:21 1/5). Foolish Hobby is from the female family of GISW and young sire Midnight Storm (Pioneerof the Nile). Three Chimneys acquired Flatter Up for $300K with this foal in utero at KEENOV in 2018. The field also includes favored Ju Taro (Arrogate) and World Connector (Connect). B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC (KY)
6th-TOK, ¥11,400,000 ($99k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1600mT
KANARRA CREEK (c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Wilson's Creek, by Bernardini), a $160K KEESEP acquisition on behalf of Godolphin by Paca Paca Farm, is out of a daughter of Darley-bred River Street (GB) (Machiavellian), a full-sister to the late and influential Street Cry (Ire) and to the stakes-placed dam of European champion 2-year-old colt Shamardal (Giant's Causeway). The colt's dam Wilson's Creek was acquired by William Harrigan/Miacomet Farm for $80K in foal to Midshipman at KEENOV in 2018. B-William B Harrigan & Mike Pietrangelo (KY)
Sunday, January 30, 2022
6th-TOK, ¥11,400,000 ($99k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800mT
MOZU CLEOPATRA (JPN) (f, 3, American Pharoah–Audubon Park, by Candy Ride {Arg}), acquired in utero for $130K at KEENOV in 2018, was purchased by the Capital Systems ownership group for $383,526 as a yearling at the 2020 JRHA Select Sales. The filly's winning dam is a daughter of Zealous Cat (Storm Cat), whose produce include GSW Tapicat (Tapit), GSP Enthusiasm (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) and the dam of Japanese Group 3-placed Dieu du Vin (Jpn) (Declaration of War). B-Satoshi Morinaga
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