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 the first meeting of the new year to be held Tuesday at Nakayama Racecourse:
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
2nd-NKY, ¥9,680,000 ($94k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
AMERICAN YELL (c, 3, Tapit–Sindy With An S, by Broken Vow), a $700K Keeneland September purchase by owner Katsumi Yoshizawa, is a full-brother to SW & GSP My Miss Tapit and the GSP duo of I'll Wrap It Up and Rattataptap, and is the 19-10 favorite to improve off a strong runner-up effort over this course and distance when last seen Dec. 13 (video, gate 12). Yoshizawa, who campaigns 2019 Triple Crown participant Master Fencer (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}), has been represented by four Tapit winners in Japan, including the listed-placed American Seed. B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd (KY)
3rd-NKY, ¥11,400,000 ($110k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m
WELL SNIPER (f, 3, Violence&log=#tot">Violence–Down the Well {Ire}, by Mujadil) is the latest to make the races for her dam, whose three winners from as many to hit the track include SW Aqua Frio (Uncle Mo) and Karak (Karakontie {Jpn}), the latter of which broke her maiden at first asking sprinting on turf at Belmont before winning the 2019 Tyro S. on the grass and the 2020 Cincinnati Trophy on the Polytrack.. Well Sniper was bought back on a bid of $37K at KEENOV in 2018 and fetched $35K at KEEJAN a couple of months later. B-Parrish Hill Farm & Amanda Roach Cole (KY)
8th-NKY, ¥21,000,000 ($204k), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1200m
SUI (f, 4, Candy Ride {Arg}–Eltimaas, by Ghostzapper), the half-sister to champion and MGISW Drefong (Gio Ponti), doubled her win tally when taking out an Oct. 3 allowance over track and trip first off a six-month absence before finishing down the field in her last visit to the post Oct. 25. A $300K KEESEP yearling turned $675K OBS March breezer, Sui is out of a half-sister to champion Action This Day (Kris S.). B-Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY)
10th-NKY, Junior Cup-Listed, ¥38,370,000 ($372k), 3yo, 1600mT
ASCALON (c, 3, Speightstown–Coco As In Chanel, by Awesome Again) validated 4-5 favoritism when breaking his maiden at first asking going 1200 meters at Sapporo Aug. 22 (see below, gate 6), but was well-beaten in his first try against winners three weeks later and resumes here. The stakes-winning Coco As In Chanel was purchased by SF Bloodstock and Newgate Farm for $150K in foal to Violence at KEENOV in 2018 and produced a filly by Newgate's Russian Revolution (Aus) in 2020. B-Heider Family Stable (KY)
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