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 Tokyo Racecourses. The weekend's main event takes place Sunday at Hanshin, where the world's top-rated racehorse Equinox (Jpn) returns in the G1 Takarazuka Kinen:
Saturday, June 24, 2023
4th-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($73k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
TOMODACHI (c, 3, Mendelssohn–Grace Is Gone, by Malibu Moon), a $100,000 purchase out of the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, matured nicely into a $235,000 Fasig-Tipton October Yearling and was one of five horses to breach the seven-figure threshold when fetching $1.3 million from trainer Mitsu Nakauchida at the 2022 OBS April Sale (breeze video). A late January foal, the chestnut is maternal grandson of Grade I-placed Grace Anatomy (Aldebaran), whose stakes-placed daughter Retro (Giant's Causeway) accounted for recent Churchill maiden winner American Retro (American Pharoah). B-Marcus Stables LLC (KY)
Sunday, June 25, 2023
5th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($95k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
DANON SWITCH (JPN) (c, 2, American Pharoah–Switch In Time {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida in utero for $350,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale, and the February foal repaid that bill and then some when hammering to Danox Co. for the equivalent of $1,359,264 at the JRHA Select Sale in 2021. Switch In Time is out of dual Grade I winner Switch (Quiet American), who is also responsible for the Irish Group 3-placed Kiss You Later (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). Christophe Lemaire has the call. B-Shunsuke Yoshida
MAPLE GANG (c, 2, War Front–Crimson Maple, by Rahy) is a half-brother to four winners from five to race and is a half-brother to five-time stakes winner Goldwood (Medaglia d'Oro). A $200,000 KEESEP yearling, the Apr. 17 foal is out of a daughter of GISW Maplejinsky (Nijinsky II), the dam of 1993 Filly Triple Crown heroine Sky Beauty (Blushing Groom {Fr}). Maplejinsky also serves as the granddam of GI Breeders' Cup Distaff upsetter Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold), MGSW & MGISP Country Hideaway (Seeking the Gold), GISW Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat) and GSW Tale of Silence (Tale of the Cat). Crimson Maple passed away this year, but has left behind a filly by Medaglia d'Oro. B-Colts Neck Stables LLC (KY)
6th-TOK, ¥10,480,000 ($73k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600m
BREGAGH ROAD (JPN) (c, 3, Quality Road–Photo Call {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) is the first Japanese-foaled produce for his dam, who first changed hands for $3 million at Keeneland November in 2015 after winning that year's GI Rodeo Drive S. and would pad her resume when taking out the GI First Lady S. the following season. Photo Call was purchased by Katsumi Yoshida for $2.7 million with this colt in utero at KEENOV in 2019, and is also responsible for a Maurice (Jpn) colt that sold for nearly $1.2 million as a foal in 2021. Bregagh Road will carry the Carrot Farm colors. B-Northern Racing
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