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 Saturday running at Tokyo Racecourse. Group 1 racing in Japan resumes next weekend with the two-mile Tenno Sho (Spring) at Hanshin:
Saturday, April 24, 2021
6th-TOK, ¥13,830,000 ($128k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m
ANNUNCIATION (c, 3, Union Rags–Acquant, by Giant's Causeway) made up a ton of ground after missing the break over this track and trip Oct. 31 and graduated by a widening 3 1/2 lengths (see below, gate 3). The $230K Keeneland September yearling just failed by a neck after a similarly slow dispatch in a course-and-distance allowance Jan. 30 and should be a warm item to make amends here. Annunciation is out of a winning daughter of MGSW Social Queen (Dynaformer), the dam of GISW Force the Pass (Speightstown). Christophe Lemaire has ridden Annunciation in his first two starts and retains the call from gate two Saturday. B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY)
IRISH SENSE (c, 3, Quality Road–Miss Singhsix {Ire}, by Singspiel {Ire}) is one of four winners from five to race from his dam, winner of the GIII Obeah S. and runner-up in the GII Delaware H. despite her turf-leaning pedigree. A maiden winner at second asking going 1400 meters at Hanshin in December (video, gate 10), the $125K KEESEP purchase was a latest third when returning from a three-month winter freshening at Chukyo Mar. 13. Irish Sense has the rail draw, with Mirco Demuro in the irons. B-Normandy Farm LLC (KY)
12th-TOK, ¥21,000,000 ($194k), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1400m
LECCE BAROQUE (f, 4, Uncle Mo–My Fast One, by Elusive Quality) won her first two career outings over course and distance by 19 lengths combined–both times as the heavy favorite (see below, gate 10)–and most recently bounced back to something approaching her best with a second-place finish over 1200 meters at Nakayama Dec. 26. A $410K KEESEP yearling turned $525K OBS March breezer, Lecce Baroque is out of a half-sister to SW No Mo Dough (Uncle Mo) and SP Terrific Storm (Storm Cat). Lemaire will have to work out a trip from the outermost stall in the field of 16. B-MMM Stables (KY)
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