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 Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses. Sunday's Boxing Day program at Nakayama features the world's biggest betting race annually, the G1 Arima Kinen, in which Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) will look close her career on a winning note in defense of her title:
Saturday, December 25, 2021
4th-NKY, ¥9,680,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1800m
DREAM AGENDA (f, 2, Curlin–Gender Agenda {GB}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was sent off the 8-5 favorite for her Sept. 18 bow over a sloppy local course and distance and gave a strong account of herself with a runner-up effort. A $200K buyback at Keeneland September last fall, the bay is the first foal from her Grade III-winning dam, herself a half-sister to the dam of champion and G1SW Pretty Pollyanna (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). The third dam includes European Horse of the Year User Friendly (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}). Gender Agenda was sold on for $55K in foal to More Than Ready at KEENOV last month. B-Profoal Partners 7 LLC (KY)
7th-NKY, ¥13,830,000 ($121k), Allowance, 2yo, 1200m
FREUD SENSE (c, 2, Street Sense–Fenwick Hall, by Freud) made light work of his debut assignment Dec. 5, easily accounting for a field of newcomers over this track and trip by five lengths as the 9-10 chalk (see below, SC 7) and figures tough right back. A $110K KEESEP RNA last year, the New York-bred, produced by a stakes-placed full-sister to MSW Miss Narcissist, fetched $160K at this year's OBS March Sale. B-Final Furlong Racing Stable (NY)
9th-HSN, ¥19,110,000 ($167k), Allowance, 2yo, 1400mT
SEA VIXEN (f, 2, Into Mischief–Sly Warrior, by First Samurai) placed twice from three starts on the turf to begin her career, but most recently switched to the dirt and galloped to a seven-length graduation at Tokyo Nov. 28 (see below, SC 2). That success notwithstanding, the $130K KEESEP yearling turned $500K OBSMAR breezer gets back on the grass this weekend. In addition to the ability she has already demonstrated, she has some pedigree for it, as her is a half-sister to SP Pull Dancer (Alywow), whose son Good Samaritan (Harlan's Holiday) was a two-time graded winner on dirt, but also took the GII Summer S. on the turf. B-Breeze Easy LLC (KY)
Sunday, December 26, 2021
4th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($117k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
GONE QUEST (c, 2, Quality Road–Gone Callin, by Proud Citizen) is out of an unraced half-sister to champion Caledonia Road (Quality Road), who was purchased by Nathan McCauley for $55K at KEEJAN in 2018. Put in foal to the Lane's End star, Gone Callin was reoffered at KEENOV that fall, hammering for $280K. The mare's first foal, Gone Quest was RNA'd for $225K at KEESEP last fall and again for $145K at FTKOCT. Caledonia Road, whose half-brother Officiating (Blame) recently took out the GIII Mr. Prospector S., also resides in Japan, where her filly foal by Justify fetched $1.22m at this year's JRHA Select Sale. B-Chiyoda Farm (KY)
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