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 Hakodate Racecourses:
Saturday, June 17, 2023
5th-HSN, ¥13,720,000 ($97k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m
ECORO GAIA (c, 2, Speightstown–Charge of Angels, by Distorted Humor) is a full-brother to the stakes-placed Winning Number and is out of an unraced daughter of the outstanding producer She's A Winner (A.P. Indy), whose offspring include GISW Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat), MGSW Lord of the Game (Saint Ballado) and GSW Dramedy (Distorted Humor). She's A Winner's full-siblings include GISW Girolamo, MGSW/GISP Daydreaming– the dam of GISW Imagining (Giant's Causeway)–MGSW & GISP Acclerator and the dam of GI Kentucky Derby hero Super Saver (Maria's Mon). A $120,000 Keeneland September purchase, Ecoro Gaia is the 50th Japanese starter for this sire and looks to become his 42nd winner. Charge of Angels was purchased by Chad Schumer in foal to Charlatan for $40,000 at KEENOV last fall. B-Spry Family Farm (KY)
Sunday, June 18, 2023
2nd-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($74k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400mT
MERITITES (f, 3, American Pharoah–Gem Gem, by Tapit) cost JS Company $140,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September Sale and is out of a full-sister to GISW Careless Jewel who was knocked down to R. J. Bennett on behalf of breeder Charles Fipke for $625,000 in foal to Uncle Mo at the 2016 KEENOV sale. The pensioned Careless Jewel is the dam of Reframe (American Pharoah), who made up for some single-minded ways to become a listed winner of over $670,000 in Japan. B-Charles Fipke (KY)
5th-HAK, ¥13,720,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
THREE TIGER (f, 2, Into Mischief–Tiger Moth, by Street Sense) is the second foal out of her dual Grade III-winning dam, a half-sister to the classy MGSW Last Gunfighter (First Samurai) and to the dam of Grade II-placed juvenile filly Dancing Belle (First Samurai). Herself a $375,000 graduate of last year's Keeneland September Sale, Three Tiger is the year-younger half-sister to $675,000 KEESEP buy Harbour Bridge (Justify), a latest second in a Churchill maiden allowance June 2. B-John D Gunther (KY)
7th-HSN, ¥15,200,000 ($107k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1600mT
T O GRANVILLE (c, 3, Lea–All in Fun, by Tapit) belied odds of 34-1 to score a visually impressive three-length victory when debuted over a mile at Niigata May 20 (see below, SC 10) and gets a positive rider change to Mirai Iwata for this second go. The stakes-placed All in Fun, a sister to MGSP Tight Ten, was purchased by Winchester Farm for $125,000 with this colt in utero at the 2019 Keeneland November Sale and has since been exported to Japan, where she foaled a Justify filly in 2021. The colt's third dam is two-time Grade I winner Fleet Renee (Seattle Slew). B-Mishima Stud Ltd (KY)
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