Notable US-Breds in Japan: July 18 & 19, 2020

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 Fukushima Racecourses:

Saturday, July 18, 2020
5th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($125k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT
KITTEN'S WALTZ (f, 2, Air Force Blue–Dance With Kitten, by Kitten's Joy) is set to be the first Japanese starter for her sire and is the first foal out of a winning full-sister to dual GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic hero Divisidero, who broke his maiden in his first career start going two turns over the Gulfstream turf course. Campaigning in the Carrot Farm colors, the dark bay is kin to a Shadai-bred yearling filly by Carpe Diem and a foal half-brother by Collected. Divisidero and Collected both stand at Airdrie Stud. B-Shadai Farm (KY)

12th-FKS, ¥14,360,000 ($134k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1150m
BEST MAGIC (c, 4, Speightstown-Glinda the Good, by Hard Spun), a half-brother to champion and Hill 'n' Dale stallion Good Magic (Curlin), was a good second on his career debut and returns to the JRA circuit off a trio of dominating victories by a combined 18 lengths against easier at Nagoya on the NAR circuit. His dual stakes-winning and Grade II-placed dam is a half-sister to GSW Take the Ribbon (Chester House), the SW/GSP duo of Flash Forward (Curlin) and Flash Mash (Smarty Jones) and MSW Bright Magic (Prized). A $200K Keeneland September yearling, Best Magic blossomed into a $700K OBS April breezer. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY)

Sunday, July 19, 2020
8th-HSN, ¥14,360,000 ($133k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 2200mT
AMERICAN SEED (c, 3, Tapit–Sweet Talker, by Stormin Fever) drops back into allowance company off a 12th-place effort behind the undefeated Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Japanese 2000 Guineas Apr. 19. The $825K KEESEP yearling had finished in the top three in each of his prior four starts, including a third in the Listed Wakaba S. over this course and distance Mar. 21 (see below, gate 7). American Seed is a full-brother to SW & GSP Sweet Tapper and a half to MGSP Perregaux (Distorted Humor). Grade I winner Sweet Talker is a half-sister to three-time graded winner Silver Medallion (Badge of Silver). B-Courtlandt Farm (KY)