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 Fukushima and Kokura Racecourses:
Sunday, July 6, 2025
5th-FKS, ¥14,250,000 ($98k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT
MAKE IT (f, 2, Bolt d'Oro–Holy Legal {Brz}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) is the first foal from her dam, a stakes winner in Brazil in 2017, a champion MGSW sprinter in Uruguay the following season and twice-placed in Arlington allowance races and down the field in the Korea Sprint and well-beaten in the Korea Sprint in 2019. A $20,000 graduate of the 2020 Keeneland January Sale, Holy Legal was bought back on a bid of $57,000 at the 2022 Fasig-Tipton July HORA Sale when carrying this filly, who was foaled the following February. Covered by Corniche and exported to Japan, Holy Legal produced a filly in 2024 and a filly by Group 3 winner Tosen Reve (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) this term. O/B-Takaya Shimakawa (KY); T-Minoru Tsuchida
8th-KOK, ¥15,200,000 ($105k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1000m
FEMME ELEGANTE (f, 3, Tiz the Law–Twirling Owen, by Twirling Candy) failed to land a blow sprinting over a yielding local grass course Feb. 20, but turned it around in a big way, graduating by seven lengths on the dirt at Fukushima Apr. 20 (see below, SC 15). West Virginia-bred Twirling Owen was a winner in restricted stakes company and fetched $165,000 carrying this filly at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale. The mare, a half-sister to MSW Run To Daylight (Runhappy), was reoffered at the same auction in 2023, selling for $42,000 in foal to Honor A. P., but sadly passed away in 2024. O-Normandy Thoroughbred Racing Co Ltd; B-W S Farish (KY); T-Naoya Nakamura
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