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 Tokyo Racecourses:
Saturday, February 6, 2021
6th-TOK, ¥11,400,000 ($108k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800mT
JOYOUS CHANT (c, 3, Kitten's Joy–Sweet Chant, by Distorted Humor) cost $140K as a weanling at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton November sale, and the fact he was purchased by the Godolphin braintrust is no surprise, as the March foal is out of a half-sister to Campanologist (Kingmambo), winner of five Group 1 races for Sheikh Mohammed's operation in Germany and Italy and winner of group races in England and on World Cup night in Dubai. The colt's third dam was Canadian Horse of the Year Glorious Song (Halo), the full-sister to Saint Ballado, and dam of such luminaries as Singspiel (Ire) and Rahy (Blushing Groom {Fr}). B-Teneri Farm, Bernardo A Calderon, Kenneth L & Sarah K Ramsey (KY)
Sunday, February 7, 2020
2nd-TOK, ¥9,680,000 ($92k), Maiden, 3yo, 2100m
NIGHT FROLIC (c, 3, Into Mischief–Frolic's Revenge, by Vindication) stretches out significantly in trip off a distant sixth on his 1600-meter debut to the very promising Annunciation (Union Rags) last Oct. 31. His five-time stakes-winning dam has already been responsible for SW American Frolic (Blame) and SP Mc Awesome (Super Saver) and is herself a half-sister to GSW & MGISP Super Frolic (Pine Bluff). Night Frolic, a $300K Keeneland September yearling, has the services of leading rider Christophe Lemaire. B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (KY)
4th-CKO, ¥13,830,000 ($131k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m
LADY MERCY (f, 3, American Pharoah–Two Oceans, by Cape Town) has improved with a stretch-out to two turns, finishing third in his first route attempt at Kyoto Oct. 17 before defeating fellow US-bred Voix d'Ange (Curlin) in a course-and-distance test Dec. 19 (see below, SC 11). A maternal granddaughter of MSW & GSP Ocean Cat (Storm Cat), Lady Mercy hails from the extended female family of Japanese Horses of the Year Narita Brian (Jpn) (Brian's Time) and Biwa Hayahide (Jpn) (Sharrood). B-Toshihiro Matsumoto (KY)
4th-TOK, ¥13,830,000 ($131k), Allowance, 3yo, 1400m
SATONO MUSTANG (c, 3, Mineshaft–Mare and Cher, by Old Fashioned) found only Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby points-getter Lemon Pop (Lemon Drop Kid) too strong on his 1300-meter bow at this track Nov. 7 before posting a convincing maiden success over the same distance when last seen Nov. 21 (see below, SC 8). A half-brother to Cruise and Danze (Danza), the $25K KEESEP yearling turned $150K OBS March breezer is out of a half-sister to SW & GSP Fight On (Into Mischief) and his third dam includes Sheave (Mineshaft), the dam of GI Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss). B-Haymarket Farm LLC (KY)
9th-TOK, ¥19,110,000 ($181k), Allowance, 3yo, 2400mT
AIR SAGE (c, 3, Point of Entry–Nokaze, by Empire Maker) could scarcely have been more impressive on debut, finding his best stride in the final furlong en route to a comfortable success over 2000 grassy meters at Chukyo Jan. 5 (video, SC 10). A half-brother to Japanese GSW Air Almas (Majestic Warrior) and to Air Fanditha (Hat Trick {Jpn}), victorious at Chukyo last weekend, Air Sage counts the aforementioned Glorious Song's full-sister Angelic Song as his third dam. This is also the female family of last year's GI Kentucky Derby third Mr. Big News (Giant's Causeway). B-Winchester Farm LLC (KY)
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