Well-Related Goldencents Colt Tries Dirt at Chukyo

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes 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 Chukyo and Fukushima Racecourses:

Saturday, July 22, 2023
12th-CKO, ¥15,200,000 ($108k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1800m
AIR METEORA (c, 3, Goldencents–Nokaze, by Empire Maker) was just touched off by future Group 2 winner and G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) fourth Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) on Hanshin debut last November, graduated nicely going a mile over this turf course Jan. 7 and was a very good third in allowance company when last seen Jan. 28. The homebred switches to the dirt for the first time and he's got the pedigree to do it, as he is a half to Japanese Group 2 dirt winner Air Almas (Majestic Warrior) and is out of a half-sister to the dam of 2022 GIII Fantasy S. and recent Saylorville S. victress Yuugiri (Shackleford). Air Meteora is also kin to Air Fanditha (Hat Trick {Jpn}), a dual listed winner on turf in Japan. B-Sekie & Tsunebumi Yoshihara (KY)

12th-FKS, ¥15,200,000 ($108k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1150m
THEURGIST (c, 4, Ghostzapper–Orphea, by Medaglia d'Oro) was well beaten over this course and distance on career debut last July, then ran the table in three starts against softer at Himeji on the NAR circuit this winter before finishing a respectable third behind fellow US-bred Lucks At There (Kantharos) in a Tokyo allowance June 25. A $410,000 Fasig-Tipton November weanling, the bay is a half-brother to Grade III-placed Born to Be Winner (Einstein {Brz}) and is out of an unraced daughter of MGSW/MGISP Nasty Storm (Gulch), also the dam of Irish multiple Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Actress (Ire) (Declaration of War). B-Ghostzapper Syndicate & Paul Tackett Revocable Trust (KY)

Sunday, July 23, 2023
3rd-FKS, ¥10,480,000 ($75k), Maiden, 2yo, 1150m
ESCALE (c, 2, American Pharoah–Pretty Girl {Arg}, by Harlan's Holiday) turned in a very promising effort in his first trip to the post, coming home a longshot third in the local slop July 1. A $310,000 Keeneland September purchase last fall by owner Koji Maeda, the bay shares a second dam with Dark Love (Arg) (In the Dark {Arg}), seven-length winner of the G1 Estrellas Juvenile at a mile on turf at San Isidro last month. Escale's dam was a Group 1 winner in Argentina, a listed winner in France and multiple Grade II-placed in this country. B-Bonne Chance Farm LLC (KY)