By Alan Carasso
In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes 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. With a good amount of American-bred activity this weekend, we will run this information in two installments and with that, here are the horses of interest for Saturday running at Sapporo and Niigata Racecourses. Sunday's notable entrants will appear in Saturday's TDN:
Saturday, August 21, 2021
1st-SAP, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 2yo, 1800mT
POISON ARROW (c, 2, Arrogate–Crosswinds, by Storm Cat) never really got a hold of the Hakodate main track on debut July 24, but he traveled much better when switched to the grass Aug. 7, finishing a close fifth with a bit of trouble (see below, gate 10). The $750K Keeneland September yearling is not only a half-brother to main-track GISW Weep No More (Mineshaft), but also to Current (Curlin), whose best victory came in the GIII Dixiana Bourbon S. over the Keeneland turf course in 2018. Poison Arrow's second dam, 2001 GI Kentucky Oaks winner Flute (Seattle Slew), was responsible for Filimbi (Mizzen Mast), a Grade II winner and four times Grade I-placed on the grass. B-Hinkle Farms (KY)
5th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
JASPER KRONE (c, 2, Frosted–Fancy Kitten, by Kitten's Joy) is the first produce for his dam, stakes-placed going long on the grass during her sophomore season for trainer Fernando Abreu before being retired to stud in 2018. Descending from the extended female family of the good juvenile Jump Start and from the same A.P. Indy sire line, Jasper Krone was a $25K KEESEP yearling and was hammered down to trainer Hideyuki Mori for $90K after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5 at this year's OBS March Sale. Mirco Demuro has accepted the call. B-Machmer Hall & Godolphin (KY)
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