By Alan Carasso
In this ongoing 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 Nakayama Racecourses:
Sunday, March 12, 2017
10th-CKO, ¥34,200,000 (US$298k), Alw, 3yo, 1400m
LEVANTE LION (c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Ghostly Darkness, by Ghostzapper) won the first two starts of his career, including a record-setting victory in the G3 Hakodate Nisai S. (1200mT) at second asking, but switches to the dirt for the first time for this valuable event. The $150K KEESEP acquisition faces fellow American-bred Aster Swing (c, 3, Haynesfield–Swinging, by Wild Again), winner of half of his four trips to the post, including a 1 3/4-length success at Kyoto Feb. 19. A $25K KEESEP yearling who blossomed into a $190K OBSAPR 2yo, Aster Swing is kin to MSP Off Limits (Include) and hails from the family of GSW & GISP Ocho Ocho Ocho (Street Sense) and a 2-year-old Bernardini colt who sold for $1.45 million at the recently concluded FTFMAR sale.
8th-NKY, ¥14,250,000 (US$124k), Alw, 4yo/up, 1800m
BELLA POSA (f, 4, Tapit–Livin Lovin, by Birdstone) graduated by five lengths at second asking in her first dirt appearance at Tokyo last June and most recently returned from a seven-month absence to finish a decent fifth over 1400m at Chukyo Jan. 28. The $325K KEESEP buyback turned $575K FTFMAR breezer, a daughter of the 2009 GIII Tempted S. victrix, stretches out in trip for this.
Saturday, March 11, 2017
3rd-CKO, ¥9,550,000 (US$83k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m
WONDER SETTLER (c, 3, Super Saver–S. S. Miracle, by Seattle Slew) is a maternal grandson of GISW Header Card (Quack) and hails from the further female family of the Glen Hill Farm half-siblings Repriced (Roberto) and Top Rung (Seattle Slew) as well as MGSW & GISP Gray Cashmere (Relaunch). Half-brother Spin Master (Distorted Humor) landed his career debut and added a stakes win and graded black-type in the course of his next three starts.
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