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 Sunday running at Kokura, Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses. Sunday's G3 Kitakyushu Kinen at Kokura, one of a couple of steppingstones to October's G1 Sprinters' S., has attracted US-bred GISW Mozu Superflare (Speightstown) and GSW/G1SP Gendarme (Kitten's Joy) going the metric six furlongs:
Sunday, August 22, 2021
1st-SAP, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 2yo, 1500mT
SEA VIXEN (f, 2, Into Mischief–Sly Warrior, by First Samurai) is out of a four-time winning half-sister to MSP Pull Dancer (Pulpit), the dam of the versatile Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday), a two-time graded winner and Grade I-placed on the main track and GSW/GISP on the grass; and GSW Brave Nation (Pioneerof the Nile). The February foal's third dam Emmaus (Silver Deputy) produced Wise Dan's sire Wiseman's Ferry (Hennessy) and was a half-sister to GSWs Della Francesca (Danzig), Country Cat (Storm Cat) and Bernstein (Storm Cat). A $130K Keeneland September yearling, Sea Vixen fetched $500K from Yuji Hasegawa after breezing a furlong in the bullet time of :9 4/5 at OBS this past March. B-Breeze Easy LLC (KY)
3rd-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
HANA KIRI (c, 2, Tapit–Tamarack Bay, by Dehere) was snapped up for $325K by trainer Hideyuki Mori on behalf of owner Tsuyoshi Ono at KEESEP last fall and looks to become the eighth winner from nine to race from his GSP dam. Of the seven previous winners, four have earned full black-type, including GISW Tamarando (Bertrando), GSW turf marathoner Ward 'N Jerry (Lucky Pulpit)–third in a Del Mar optional claimer Thursday–MSW Luckarack (Lucky Pulpit) and SW U'narack (Unusual Heat). To date, the all-conquering Tapit is the sire of 37 winners from 41 starters in Japan. Mirco Demuro sees fit to ride. B-Mr & Mrs Larry D Williams (KY)
5th-KOK, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
JEAN GROS (c, 2, More Than Ready–Goodbye Stranger, by Broad Brush) was acquired by John Mayer's Nursery Place for $120K carrying this full-brother to MGSW & GISP Tom's Ready at Keeneland January in 2019 and led the colt out unsold on a bid of $130K at KEESEP in 2020. Pike Racing consigned the early March foal to this year's OBSMAR sale, where he was knocked down to the aforementioned Mori for $265K after breezing in :10 flat. Jean Gros is out of a half to the MSW dam of Deep Opus (Exchange Rate), a four-time winner of better than $600K in Japan. B-Nursery Place & Partners (KY)
6th-KOK, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1000m
LA LA CHANDON (c, 3, Street Sense–Divine Praises, by Medaglia d'Oro) cost $260K at KEESEP in 2019 and is out of a full-sister to MGSW & GISP Valid and a half to GISW Malibu Prayer (Malibu Moon). The colt's third dam Lyrical Prayer (The Minstrel) produced future GISW Swagger Jack (Smart Strike) when she was 18 years of age, a decade after foaling GSW Tap Dance (Pleasant Tap). The now 2-year-old out of Divine Praises, a filly named Harper's Road (Quality Road),was purchased by the Albaugh Family for $400K at KEESEP last fall. B-Three Chimneys Farm LLC (KY)
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