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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses, the latter of which plays host to the first Group 1 of 2019, the February S., featuring US-breds Copano Kicking and Moanin:
Saturday, February 16, 2019
3rd-KYO, ¥11,400,000 ($103k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m
SHIBUYA CROSSING (c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro&log=">Medaglia d'Oro–Oleanda Avenue, by A.P. Indy), a $200K Keeneland September yearling, is a maternal grandson of GI Ballerina H. winner Harmony Lodge (Hennessy), also the dam of GSW Stratford Hill (A.P. Indy) and SP Armistice Day (Declaration of War). The colt's Grade III-winning third dam Win Crafty Lady (Crafty Prospector) bred MGSW Graeme Hall (Dehere); GSW Win McCool (Giant's Causeway), dam of MGSW Cool Beans (Candy Ride {Arg}); and Win's Fair Lady (Dehere), dam of GSW First Passage (Giant's Causeway). Shibuya Crossing is bred like GI Kentucky Oaks winner Plum Pretty. B-Hargus & Sandra Sexton & Silver Fern Farm (KY).
Sunday, February 17, 2019
3rd-KYO, ¥9,550,000 ($86k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m
WIEGENLIED (f, 3, Tiznow–Dream Supreme, by Seeking the Gold) showed little in a single turf appearance at two, but the $400K KEESEP purchase is beautifully bred for this switch to the dirt. His dam was a dual Grade I winner at seven furlongs and produced Grade I-winning juvenile Majestic Warrior (A.P. Indy), SW & GSP Evolutionist (El Prado {Ire}) and SW Crystal Current (A.P. Indy). Like Dream Supreme, second dam Spinning Round (Dixieland Band) was also a Ballerina winner. B-Kinsman Farm (KY)
9th-TOK, Hyacinth S.-Listed, ¥36,200,000 ($327k), 3yo, 1600m
MAKE HAPPY (f, 3, Square Eddie-Silar Rules, by Ten Most Wanted), a $650K purchase out of last year's Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream sale, won her first two starts by daylight–including the course-and-distance Cattleya Sho over the boys Nov. 24 (see below, gate 14)–and exits a fourth in the Zennippon Nisai Yushun Dec. 19. Mirco Demuro takes over on the full-sister to GISW Ralis and MSW & GSP B Squared. B-Reddam Racing LLC (CA)
11th-TOK, February S.-G1, ¥190m ($1.7m), 4yo/up, 1600m
A pair of US-breds contest this first top-level race of the season, led by the progressive COPANO KICKING (g, 4, Spring At Last–Celadon, by Gold Halo {Jpn}), winner of seven from nine lifetime and a latest winner of Tokyo's 1400m G3 Negishi S. (see below, gate 11). Nanako Fujita has the call on the $19K KEESEP RNA turned $100K FTFMAR breezer, bred in Kentucky by Reiley McDonald. MOANIN (h, 7, Henny Hughes–Giggly, by Distorted Humor), a $90K FTNAUG yearling and $335K OBSMAR juvenile, beaten into fourth in the Negishi S., but set a track record of 1:34 when making the 2016 February S. his sixth win from his first seven career appearances. Moanin was bred in New York by Empire Equines.
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