Koichi Nishikawa

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 Saturday at Sapporo Racecourse: Saturday, August 24, 2024 5th-SAP, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1700m LUXOR CAFE (c, 2, American Pharoah--Mary's Follies, by More Than Ready) is the full-brother to Cafe Pharoah, back-to-back winner of the G1 February Stakes and third in the 2023 G1...

The undefeated SW Café Pharoah (American Pharoah), the even-money pick in Tokyo's 1600-meter G3 Unicorn S., made that price look like a gift on Sunday, as he won that Japanese Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifier by five easy lengths and set a new stakes record in the process (1:34.90). Dieu du Vin (Jpn) (Declaration of War) was second, 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Kenshinko (Jpn) (Pyro), as American-bred sires were responsible for the first three home. It was the first winner on dirt at the graded/group level for his...