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 Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses, including the racecourse debut of a well-related son of Tapit:
Saturday, August 2, 2020
7th-NII, ¥14,360,000 ($137k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1800m
NILE RIVER (c, 3, American Pharoah–Jeweliana, by Smart Strike), a $235K Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling turned $775K Fasig-Tipton Florida juvenile, got his career off on the right foot, scoring by a half-length over Tokyo's one-turn dirt mile last November. He was last seen in the Listed Hyacinth S. at headquarters Feb. 22, finishing well down the field behind future G3 Unicorn S. hero Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah). Nile River's dam is a daughter of Roshani (Fantastic Light), who did her best running on turf, winning a trio of graded stakes and nearly a half-million dollars. B-Rosedown Racing Stable LLC (KY)
Sunday, August 3, 2020
5th-SAP, ¥13,400,000 ($127k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT
VANISHING POINT (c, 2, Tapit–Unrivaled Belle, by Unbridled's Song) is the full-brother to two-time Eclipse Award winner Unique Bella, a treble Grade I winner for Don Alberto Stable, who acquired GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic heroine Unrivaled Belle for $2.8 million at Keeneland November in 2011. Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm bid $3.8 million to purchase Unrivaled Belle at KEENOV in 2016 carrying a full-sibling to Unique Bella and sold this offspring for $1.5 million at KEESEP last fall. Second dam Queenie Belle (Bertrando) was herself a two-time Grade II winner. Christophe Lemaire takes the call. B-Whisper Hill Farm LLC (KY)
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