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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses:
Saturday, February 15, 2020
3rd-Kyoto, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m
A SHIN EMBARR (c, 3, Carpe Diem–Ambling, by Chester House), a $270K Keeneland September purchase, turned in a promising debut effort to be second over this track and trip Jan. 18. A half to dual-surface GSP Triple Arch (Arch), the Mar. 18 foal is out of a full-sister to turf GSW Lady Carlock; and a half to the talented MGSW turf distaffer Solvig (Caerleon) and Swedish Derby hero Swing That Cat (Cat Thief). B-Randal Family Trust R David & Marilyn A Randal Trustees (KY)
4th-Tokyo, ¥13,830,000 ($126k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m
NOCTURNE NOTES (JPN) (f, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Summer Soiree, by War Front) was unplaced, but not embarrassed in her first two career trips to the post, and got it right last time, graduating by 1 1/2 lengths on the dirt at Kyoto Oct. 5 (see below, gate 1). Chiyoda Farm's Dr. Masatake Iida acquired this filly's GI Del Mar Oaks-winning dam for $1.3 million at KEENOV in 2016 and Summer Soiree is the dam of a yearling filly by Deep Impact (Jpn). She was most recently bred to Lord Kanaloa (Jpn). B-Chiyoda Farm Shizunai
6th-Kyoto, ¥11,400,000 ($104k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m
VALKYRJA (JPN) (f, 3, Tapit–Peace and War, by War Front) is the first foal from her dam, who came from the clouds to cause a 23-1 upset for Qatar Racing in the 2014 GI Darley Alcibiades S. at Keeneland (see below). Runner-up in the GIII Delaware Oaks and third in the GI Cotillion S. at three, she was bought back on a bid of $1.5 million at FTKNOV in 2015, but sold for $1.45 million with this filly in utero at KEENOV 12 months later. Peace and War produced a Deep Impact filly last year and is carrying to Horse of the Year Kitasan Black (Jpn), a son of Deep Impact's full-brother Black Tide (Jpn). B-Northern Racing
Sunday, February 16, 2020
12th-Kyoto, ¥21,000,000 ($191k), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1200m
TIMING NOW (c, 4, Tapit–Her Smile, by Include) kicked off his career with back-to-back victories, including a Chukyo allowance last February (see below, gate 11), but looks to snap a two-length skid in his first run for nearly 10 months here. A $750K KEESEP purchase, the bay is the year-younger full-brother to Pink Sands, who has come to life this season with victories in Gulfstream's GIII Rampart S. and GII Inside Information S. in her last two starts. Her Smile, victorious in the GI Prioress S. in 2010, was purchased by Larry and Karen Doyle's KatieRich Farms for $1.5 million carrying Pink Sands at KEENOV in 2014. B-KatieRich Farms (KY)
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