Well-Related Union Rags Colt Debuts at Hanshin

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 Saturday running at Hanshin Racecourses:

Saturday, November 12, 2022
4th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
CUPIDON (c, 2, American Pharoah–Chocolate Pop, by Cuvee) is a half-brother to dual-surface graded winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Airoforce (Colonel John) and was hammered down to owner Koki Meada for $300,000 at last year's Keeneland September sale. His dam, twice placed at stakes level, was sold to Springhouse Farm for $460,000 in foal to Bernardini at the 2017 Keeneland January sale and is also responsible for a yearling Uncle Mo filly that fetched $450,000 from Live Oak at this year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale. Cupidon is bred on a similar cross to MGSW Forbidden Kingdom. B-Camas Park Stud & Lynch Bages Ltd (KY)

5th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT
GUREN (c, 2, Union Rags–Purely Hot, by Pure Prize) is the fifth foal to make the races from his Grade III-winning dam, who was acquired by Hugo Merry Bloodstock for $1.2 million with this colt in utero at Keeneland November in 2019. The lofty pricetag was due in large measure to the on-track exploits of the mare's 'TDN Rising Star' son Eight Rings (Empire Maker), who won that year's GI American Pharoah S. about a month prior to going under the hammer in Lexington. Guren was a $235,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling purchase by Red Wings and was entered for–but was ultimately scratched from–this year's OBS April sale. B-Orpendale/Chelston/Wynatt (KY)