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. Plenty of U.S.-bred activity, so we begin with Saturday's runners at Chukyo and Tokyo on what shapes up as a potentially productive weekend. Sunday's notable horses will appear in Saturday's TDN:
1st-CKO, ¥9,680,000 ($89k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
CAREERISM (c, 3, Upstart–Out of Goodbyes, by Out of Place) has run too good to lose in each of his two previous career outings, first when beaten a half-length on debut over this track and distance Jan. 30 before missing by a head at Hanshin Feb. 27 (see below, gate 3). The February foal is out of a three-time stakes winner in Massachusetts-bred company whose half-brother No More Goodbyes (More Than Ready) was also a black-type winner at Suffolk Downs. An $85K Fasig-Tipton November weanling, Careerism was knocked down for $120K as a FTKJUL yearling and made $200K as an OBS March breezer after working a quarter-mile in :21 2/5. B-Golden Pedigree LLC (KY)
MOZU LOTUS LAND (c, 3, Tapit–Sacred Feather, by Carson City), a half-brother to French MGSW & G1SP Taareef (Kitten's Joy), cost $425K as a Keeneland September yearling and is out of a stakes-placed daughter of MGSW Marianna's Girl (Dewan), the dam of MSW & MGSP Crimson Classic (Sky Classic); GSWs Marastani (Shahrastani) and Christine' s Outlaw (Wild Again); and SW/GSP Amansara (War Chant), the dam of SW Siem Riep (Tapit) and GSP Tempestad (Uncle Mo). B-Dixiana Farms LLC & Tapit Syndicate (KY)
5th-CKO, ¥9,680,000 ($89k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600mT
BELLE AURORE (f, 3, Galileo {Ire}–Turbulent Descent, by Congrats) is a full-sister to Spanish Steps (Ire), winner of the 2017 G3 Ballyroan S. for Team Coolmore and Flaxman Holdings, and was snapped up by North Hills Co. Ltd. for $710K at the 2019 KEESEP sale. The colt's dam won the GI Hollywood Starlet S. at two and the GI Santa Anita Oaks and GI Test S. in 2011 before being acquired by Coolmore during her 4-year-old campaign. She added the GI Ballerina S. in her first start for the new ownership in 2012 and was later bought back on a bid of $2.45 million in foal to War Front at FTKNOV in 2014. B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY)
6th-TOK, ¥13,830,000 ($127k), Allowance, 3yo, 1400mT
SLAP SHOT (JPN) (c, 3, Air Force Blue–Laxfield Road, by Quality Road) just missed in a 1400-meter newcomers' event on the dirt at Tokyo Feb. 14 before returning on 13 days' rest go to one better over six furlongs at Nakayama (see below, gate 11), but tries the turf for the first time Saturday. A $200K in utero purchase at KEEJAN in 2018, Slap Shot fetched ¥32,940,000 ($305,354) from North Hills at the 2019 Hokkaido Selection Yearling sale. The colt's stakes-placed dam is a half-sister to GISP Zatter (Midnight Lute). B-Sakurai Bokujo
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