Notable US-Bred and -Sired Runners in Japan: May 15, 2022

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 Sunday running at Chukyo and Tokyo Racecourses. Featured on the 12-race program at headquarters is an intriguing renewal of the G1 Victoria Mile for female turfers, which has drawn the likes of fan-favorite Sodashi (Jpn) (Kurofune), G3 1351 Turf Sprint heroine Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) and Daring Tact (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), winner of the G1 Japanese 1000 Guineas and G1 Japanese Oaks in 2020:

Sunday, May 15, 2022
2nd-TOK, ¥9,900,000 ($77k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600m
NATURE THERAPY (JPN) (c, 3, Union Rags–My Happy Face, by Tiz Wonderful) is the first Japanese-bred produce for her dam, winner of the GIII Tempted S. and second in the GI Frizette S. in 2012 and placed in the GI CCA Oaks and GI Test S. the following season. Katsumi Yoshida acquired My Happy Face for $425K with this colt in utero at Keeneland November in 2018 and the Mar. 25 foal debuts in the colors of Yoshida's wife Kazumi, with top jockey Takeshi Yokoyama in the irons. B-Northern Farm

6th-CKO, ¥14,250,000 ($111k), Allowance, 3yo, 1200m
CLOS DE MESNIL (f, 3, Practical Joke–Valiant Emilia {Per}, by Pegasus Wind), the $750K topper at the 2021 OBS March sale, opened her account at first asking last November (see below, SC 7) and gets back onto what appears to be her preferred footing after finishing down the field in a six-furlong turf allowance when last seen Jan. 10. A daughter of Peru's champion older mare of 2014, Clos de Mesnil was bought back on a bid of $65K at KEENOV in 2019 and was a $120K KEESEP grad before lighting up the tote in Ocala. The filly's third dam produced GSW & G1SP Thundering Emilia (Thunder Gulch), the dam of 2021 GII Tampa Bay Derby hero Helium (Distorted Humor). B-Teneri Farm (KY)