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 Hanshin, Kokura and Tokyo Racecourses. Sunday's group-level action at Tokyo includes the G3 Kyodo News Hai featuring 3-year-old colts out Canadian Horse of the Year Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay {Ire}) and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' Turf runner-up Coasted (Tizway), each sourced for seven-figure pricetags at U.S. breeding stock sales:
Saturday, February 12, 2022
2nd-KOK, ¥9,900,000 ($85k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200mT
ANGELSILICA (f, 3, Dark Angel {Ire}–Brave Anna, by War Front) hit the board in a pair of appearances over this distance at Fukushima to begin her career, but was ninth when stretched to seven furlongs when last seen at Chukyo Dec. 19. A $150K Keeneland September purchase by the Maeda family's North Hills, the bay–who celebrates her calendar birthday Saturday–is out of the 2016 G1 Cheveley Park Stud S. heroine Brave Anna, one of two $3-million purchases by Masahiro Miki at Fasig-Tipton November last fall when offered in foal to Quality Road. Brave Anna is a full-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf hero and Spendthrift stallion Hit It a Bomb, GSP Border Town and SP Threeandfourpence. B-Mrs E Stockwell (KY)
2nd-TOK, ¥11,400,000 ($98k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m
BEAT EMOTION (c, 3, Quality Road–J. Quirk, by Unbridled's Song), a half-brother to 2021 GIII Remington Park Oaks victress Lady Mystify (Bernardnini), fetched $190K at KEESEP in 2021 and was resold to prominent owner Yuji Hasegawa for $600K at FTFMAR last year after breezing a furlong in :10 2/5 (see below). The colt's third dam is Cee's Song (Seattle Song), whose produce include Horse of the Year/MGISW Tiznow, MGSW & MGISP Budroyale and GSW Tizdubai. J. Quirk was purchased for $725K by Breeze Easy in foal to Gun Runner at KEENOV last fall. B-Scott & Evan Dilworth (KY)
10th-HSN, ¥35,040,000 ($302k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 2000mT
AIR SAGE (c, 4, Point of Entry–Nokaze, by Empire Maker) won three of his first four starts at three, including a tough front-running score in a 13-furlong allowance at Sapporo in August (see below, SC 4) that led to a respectable eighth in the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) in October. The half-brother to GSW Air Almas (Majestic Warrior) was produced by a half-sister to the dam of GSP Yuugiri (Shackleford), who is gearing up for her sophomore debut in the near future. Another half-brother to Air Sage, Air Fanditha (Hat Trick {Jpn}), is entered for the Listed Rakuyo S. (1600mT) in the race immediately following this event. B-Winchester Farm (KY)
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