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 Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses:
Saturday, August 8, 2020
1st-NII, ¥9,680,000 ($92k), Maiden, 2yo, 1600mT
KITTEN'S WALTZ (f, 2, Air Force Blue–Dances With Kitten, by Kitten's Joy) was bet down to 6-1 for her 1400-meter debut at Hanshin July 18 and raced well off the early pace before finishing with interest to be fourth, beaten six lengths (video, gate 7). Campaigned in the green-and-white hoops of Carrot Farm, the February foal is out of a winning full-sister to MGISW Divisidero and GSP Kitten's Kid and should appreciate the added real estate for this second trip to the post. B-Shadai Corporation (KY)
2nd-SAP, ¥9,680,000 ($92k), Maiden, 2yo, 1800mT
SHOVELHEAD (c, 2, Curlin">Curlin–Date to Remember, by Bernardini) made a pair of starts over Tokyo's metric mile in June, finishing a debut seventh June 6 ahead of an improved fourth-place effort three weeks later (see below, gate 5). The $700K Keeneland September graduate, a half-brother to GSW National Flag (Speightstown) and GISP Bernina Star (Harlan's Holiday), was produced by a half-sister to GISW Eddington (Unbridled) and G1SP Star Crowned (Kingmambo). Shovelhead is bred on the same cross as recent GI CCA Oaks winner Paris Lights and GSW/MGISP Point of Honor. Owner Yuji Hasegawa was represented by first-time starter winner Vanishing Point (Tapit–Unrivaled Belle) at this venue Aug. 2. B-Siena Farms LLC (KY)
Sunday, August 9, 2020
6th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($127k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT
MALIBU STAR SONG (JPN) (f, 2, Malibu Moon–Emma's Song, by Unbridled's Song), a half-sister to MSP Emerald Pond (More Than Ready), was purchased in utero for $300K at the 2017 Fasig-Tipton November Sale. The filly's second dam was the versatile Advancing Star (Soviet Star), a dual Grade III winner sprinting on turf, victorious in the GIII Rancho Bernardo H. sprinting on the dirt and twice Grade I-placed, including a runner-up effort to Cara Rafaela (Quiet American) in the 1995 GI Hollywood Starlet S. B-Shadai Farm
7th-NII, ¥14,360,000 ($136k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1200m
PRECIOUS GIRL (f, 3, Speightstown–Pressurizing, by Henrythenavigator), a debut second to the very talented Lecce Baroque (Uncle Mo) in February, was well-beaten in two subsequent tries, but found the winning thread to graduate over this track and distance when last seen July 25. The $375K FTKNOV weanling purchase is out of an unraced daughter of Vertigineux (Kris S.), the dam of the once-beaten Horse of the Year and three-time champion older mare Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}), MGISW Balance (Thunder Gulch) and SW Where's Bailey (Aljabr), dam of GSW She's Not Here (Street Cry {Ire}). B-Gilgai Farm
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