Niigata

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 Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses, including the racecourse debut of a well-related son of Tapit: Saturday, August 2, 2020 7th-NII, ¥14,360,000 ($137k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1800m NILE RIVER (c, 3, American Pharoah--Jeweliana, by Smart Strike), a $235K Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling turned $775K...

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. Just two tracks on the menu for the weekend, but American-bred and -sired juveniles are set to make their presence felt at Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses: Saturday, July 25, 2020 5th-NII, ¥13,400,000 ($125k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT REFRAME (f, 2, American Pharoah--Careless Jewel, by Tapit) is the latest to the races from...

DETROIT TESORO may not sound as an operatic name for this winning filly, but it is. The dam is Bella Traviata and Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata" is the ideal opera for some, and definitely one of the most popular. The most famous song (romanza) of "La Traviata" is "Parigi O Cara" "Paris, Oh Dear". I do not know where Detroit comes from (owner's prerogative), but in Italian Tesoro (treasure) is definitely a synonym of Cara as a term of endearment. I am exhausted and I rest my case. Detroit Tesoro,...

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 Kyoto, Niigata and Tokyo Racecourses. The latter venue hosts the G1 Yushun Himba (Japanese Oaks) Sunday, and while there are no US-bred runners, among the field of 18 are daughters of GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine Ria Antonia (Rockport...

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 Niigata and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, May 16, 2020 5th-NII, ¥9,680,000 ($90k), Maiden, 3yo, 2400mT PYRAMID MOON (c, 3, Cairo Prince--She Hung the Moon, by Malibu Moon) failed to handle a sloppy Kyoto main track on October debut, but improved to...