In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes 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 Chukyo, Fukushima and Hakodate Racecourses:
Saturday, July 6, 2019
5th-HAK, ¥13,400,000 ($124k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
PRIMEVERE (f, 2, Pioneerof the Nile–R Heat Lightning, by Trippi) debuts at the same track and distance as her year-older half-brother Aster Pegasus (Giant's Causeway), who used that first-out victory as springboard to a next-out success in Group 3 company. A $375K Keeneland September yearling purchase by the Maeda family's North Hills Co., the March foal is the latest produce from the 2010 GI Spinaway S. winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies runner-up who cost $1.3 million in foal to Bernardini at KEENOV in 2013. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY)
Sunday, July 7, 2019
5th-FUK, ¥13,400,000 ($124k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT
JASPER JAGUAR (c, 2, Declaration of War–Flatbow, by Broken Vow), the first foal from a winning half-sister to multiple turf GSP Lime Rickey (Lemon Drop Kid), made just $3K as a KEENOV weanling in 2017, but improved markedly to fetch $70K at the same auction house's September sale 10 months later. Third dam Classy Cathy (Private Account) was a 3-year-old of note, winning the GI Alabama S., GI Ashland S. and GI Gazelle H. for the late Ed Cox, Jr. in 1986. Owner Kazuo Kato sent out Jasper Jack (Declaration of War) to a debut win over 1800m last September. B-Relentless Racing (KY)
9th-CKO, ¥28,600,000 ($265k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1200m
MONT PERDU (f, 3, Cairo Prince&log=">Cairo Prince–Spanish Post, by Flatter) posted a pair of romping victories to begin her career at Kyoto, including an eased-down score Jan. 13 (see below, gate 13), and most recently atoned for a sub-par effort to finish a close third over 1400m Apr. 28. A $115K Fasig-Tipton NY-Bred Sale grad and $325K FTFMAR breezer, she cuts back to the distance of her two wins and has leading rider Yuga Kawada in the irons. B-Bluewater Sales LLC & Three Diamonds Farm (NY)
11th-CKO, Procyon S.-G3, ¥68m ($631k), 3yo/up, 1400m
MATERA SKY (h, 5, Speightstown–Mostaqeleh, by Rahy) is back to defend his title in this event which he dominated by four lengths 12 months ago (see below, gate 13). A six-time winner from his 24 career starts, the $140K KEENOV weanling turned $350K KEESEP yearling earned the biggest payday of his career in his latest appearance, a bold pace-pressing runner-up effort in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Mar. 30 in which he split US-breds X Y Jet (Kantharos) and Imperial Hint (Imperialism) (video, gate 9). B-Lynch Bages Ltd (KY)
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