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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses, featuring the 4-year-old debut of the extremely talented Mont Perdu (Cairo Prince)
Saturday, February 22, 2020
1st-KYO, ¥9,680,000 ($87k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
ABUL HAUL (c, 3, American Pharoah–Kitten's Dumplings, by Kitten's Joy), the first foal from the 2013 GI QE II Challenge Cup winner, was pounded into 1-2 favoritism for his Sept. 14 bow over the Nakayama turf, but could manage only a mid-pack seventh. The April foal switches to the dirt here and gets the services of Christophe Lemaire. Kitten's Dumplings, a full-sister to GSW Granny's Kitten and to SW/GSP Granny Mc's Kitten, was acquired privately by Shadai Farm in 2016. She was bred back to American Pharoah after producing this colt, was exported and produced a colt by the Triple Crown winner in 2018. Kitten's Dumplings was most recently covered by Duramente (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}). B-Teruya Yoshida (KY)
Sunday, February 23, 2020
1st-TOK, ¥9,680,000 ($87k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m
SUI (f, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}–Eltimaas, by Ghostzapper), a half-sister to Eclipse Award and GI Breeders' Cup Sprint winner and Japanese-based stallion Drefong (Gio Ponti), sat a difficult trip from a wide draw in her 1800-meter debut at Nakayama Dec. 14 and tired late to finish a distant eighth behind Sunday's Listed Hyacinth S. hopeful Cafe Pharoah (American Pharoah). Out of an unraced half-sister to champion Action This Day (Kris S.), the $300K Keeneland September yearling turned $675K OBS March breezer (:10 flat) cuts back to the metric seven furlongs for this and attracts the services of leading jockey Mirco Demuro. B-Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY)
11th-KYO, ¥41,800,000 ($374k), Open Class, 4yo/up, 1200m
The fleet-footed MONT PERDU (f, 3, Cairo Prince–Spanish Post, by Flatter) was arguably Japan's best female dirt sprinter last season, with four victories and a third from seven runs, including track record-setting performances at Chukyo in July and over this track and trip in October (see below, gate 5). The New York-bred was well-backed for the Listed JBC Ladies' Classic Nov. 4, but took a horrific spill after 400 meters and was given ample time to recover. A $115K graduate of the 2017 Fasig-Tipton NY-Bred Sale, the bay realized $325K at F-T Gulfstream the following March. B-Bluewater Sales LLC & Three Diamonds Farm (NY)
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