Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Feb. 27, 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 Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses. US-bred Copano Kicking (Spring At Last) is one of many raiders that will fly the flag for Japan at this weekend's Saudi Cup meeting when he goes in defense of his title in the $1.5-million [now G3] Riyadh Cup Sprint:

Sunday, February 28, 2022
2nd-HSN, ¥9,900,000 ($86k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
HE SAID SHE SAID (f, 3, Blame–Divine Escapade, by Madcap Escapade) was acquired by Sun Valley Farm for $52K in utero at Keeneland November in 2018 and was hammered down to Paca Paca Farm on behalf of Godolphin for $55K at KEENOV 12 months later. A half-sister to SW King Of the Court (Speightstown), the January foal is out of a daughter of GI Ashland S. heroine Madcap Escapade (Hennessy), whose own GI Darley Debutante S.-winning daughter Mi Sueno (Pulpit) is the dam of Japanese Group 3 winner Mi Suerte (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}). Madcap Escapade is a half-sister to Dubai Escapade (Awesome Again), a $2-million Barretts March juvenile who carried the Darley maroon-and-white to a romping victory in the 2006 GI Ballerina Breeders' Cup S. B-Sun Valley Farm (KY)

4th-NKY, ¥9,900,000 ($86k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
BEAT EMOTION (c, 3, Quality Road–J. Quirk, by Unbridled's Song) was hammered into 3-5 favoritism for his seven-furlong debut at Tokyo Feb. 12, but could not quite overcome the widest post and settled for a close runner-up effort (see below, SC 16). A half-brother to last year's GIII Remington Park Oaks winner Lady Mystify (Bernardini), the gray made $190K at KEESEP in 2020 and improved into a $600K Fasig-Tipton Florida breezer. Beat Emotion's now-yearling half-brother by Gun Runner was purchased by Breeze Easy for $375K at KEENOV last fall. B-Scott & Evan Dilworth (KY)