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 running Saturday at Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses. Another helping of US-breds scheduled to run Sunday will appear in Saturday's TDN:
Saturday, September 5, 2020
1st-SAP, ¥9,680,000 ($90k), Maiden, 2yo, 1700m
SHOVELHEAD (c, 2, Curlin">Curlin–Date to Remember, by Bernardini) has improved steadily in three previous starts–all on turf–and nearly got the job done when a close second over 1800 meters at Sapporo Aug. 8 (see below, gate 5). The winner of that race, Giorti (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) will be one of the favorites for Saturday's G3 Sapporo Nisai S. Switching to the main track for this start, Shovelhead gets the endorsement of top rider Christophe Lemaire. A $700K Keeneland September grad, the half-brother to GSW National Flag (Speightstown) and half to GISP Bernina Star (Harlan's Holiday) is out of a half-sister to GISW Eddington (Unbridled) and G1SP Star Crowned (Kingmambo). His yearling half-brother by Uncle Mo is cataloged as hip 560 Sept. 16 at KEESEP. B-Siena Farms LLC (KY)
5th-SAP, ¥13,400,000 ($126k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1500mT
KITTEN'S RUMBA (c, 2, Kitten's Joy–Tee Off, by Thunder Gulch), a $90K KEENOV weanling turned $125K KEESEP yearling, is a half-brother to MGSW turfer and debut winner Five Iron (Sharp Humor) as well as Back Spin (Successful Appeal), who was placed at Grade II level at two. Tee Off, a half-sister to dual GISW Tactile (Slew o' Gold), is the dam of a yearling colt by Declaration of War that is cataloged as hip 1204 at KEESEP. Kitten's Rumba is bred on the El Prado (Ire) cross over Thunder Gulch responsible for the likes of MGISW Mshawish (Medaglia d'Oro). B-Frederick M Allor & Ken & Sarah Ramsey (KY)
5th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($126k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT
AMERICAN MACH (c, 2, Kitten's Joy–Cat On a Tin Roof, by Catienus) was purchased by Master Fencer (Jpn)'s owner Katsumi Yoshizawa for $310K at KEESEP last fall and is out of a full-sister to Cannonball, a three-time stakes winner and three times graded-stakes placed in this country who was second in a G1 Golden Jubilee S. and Group 3-placed in Australia. A full-brother to SW Sniper Kitten, American Mach also hails from the female family of GSW/GISP Emotional Kitten (Kitten's Joy) and MSW & GISP Unspoken Word (Catienus). American Mach's full-sister is consigned by Ramsey Farm to the opening session at KEESEP a week from Sunday. B-Ken & Sarah Ramsey (KY)
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