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 Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses:
Saturday, January 23, 2021
4th-NKY, ¥11,400,000 ($110k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1200m
MIRATIO (f, 3, Verrazano–My Fast One, by Elusive Quality) is the latest to make the races from her dam, a half-sister to SW No Mo Dough (Uncle Mo), whose daughter Lecce Baroque (Uncle Mo) made an enormous impression in Japan last season, winning her first two starts by a combined 19 lengths, including a 10-length debut score around this time last year. This is also the deeper female family of the popular handicap horse of the late 1990s, Wekiva Springs. Miratio was entered for, but was withdrawn from Keeneland September in 2019. B-MMM Stables (KY)
10th-CKO, Wakagoma S.-Listed, ¥38m ($367k), 3yo, 2000mT
JASPER DREAM (c, 3, Speightstown–Liberated, by Curlin), a $125K KEESEP acquisition, was well-beaten in his first two career starts, but put it all together last time, besting fellow American-bred Voix d'Ange (Curlin)–also entered this weekend–in an 1800-meter dirt test at this venue Jan. 11 (see below, gate 15). One of 32 winners from 36 Japanese starters for his sire, Jasper Dream has some turf pedigree underneath, as his dam is a Grade II-placed half-sister to Seruni (Saint Liam), a stakes winner on dirt and MGSP on turf; and English Affair (English Channel), whose major victory came in the GIII Cardinal H. on the grass. B-G Watts Humphrey Jr (KY)
Sunday, January 24, 2021
4th-CKO, ¥13,830,000 ($134k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m
TOP THE BILL (JPN) (f, 3, American Pharoah–Top Decile, by Congrats) is a daughter of the 2014 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and GI Darley Alcibiades S. runner-up who was sold for $950K carrying this filly at KEENOV in 2017. The March-foaled chestnut steps up to face winners for the first time, having sustained a big middle move from last to break her maiden over this track and trip Jan. 11 (video, gate 16). B-Shadai Farm
10th-NKY, ¥34,620,000 ($334k), Allowance, 4yo/up, 1800m
AMERICAN SEED (c, 4, Tapit–Sweet Talker, by Stormin Fever), an $825K KEESEP yearling, looked to have a future on the grass, with a maiden victory and a stakes victory from six starts, but he has been better still with a switch to the dirt. The full-brother to SW & GSP Sweet Tapper and half to MGSP Perregaux (Distorted Humor) has won his two tries over the surface by 12 lengths, including a five-length success when last seen Dec. 12 (video, gate 1), and a strong performance here could earn him a trip back to stakes company. B-Courtlandt Farm (KY)
American Seed🇺🇸 (Tapit @Gainesway – Sweet Talker, Stormin Fever) (2017) won the winners class over 9F by 7L on his 1st race on dirt. Listed placed horse on turf bred by @CourtlandtFarm and his dam is a G1 winner. Made $825k @keenelandsales Sep in 2018.https://t.co/hnnEgmkEGp
— Toshi Onikubo (鬼窪峻大) (@toshionikubo) October 24, 2020
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