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 Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses:
Saturday, January 25, 2025
3rd-CKO, ¥11,850,000 ($76k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m
BLUE AROMA (f, 3, American Pharoah–Comical, by Into Mischief) is the first foal from her dam, winner of the 2019 GIII Schuylerville Stakes, second in the GI Chandelier Stakes and third in the GI Del Mar Debutante Stakes. A daughter of the stakes-placed Kayce Ace (Tiznow), herself a full-sister to MGISW Colonel John, Comical fetched $925,000 from JS Company at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale. Foaled on Jan, 29, 2022, Blue Aroma was offered at that year's JRHA Select Sale, hammering for approximately $226,000. The now 2-year-old half-brother by top sire Kitasan Black (Jpn) made $354,000 at the same auction in 2023. O-Toshio Terada; B-Shimoyahiki Bokujo; T-Ryo Takahashi
4th-CKO, ¥11,850,000 ($76k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m
INDIGO (JPN) (f, 3, Tiz the Law–Some Kind of Blue, by Union Rags), a $290,000 in-utero purchase at Keeneland November in 2021, is out of an unraced daughter of Silver Colors (Mr. Greeley), whose daughter Eskimo Kisses (To Honor and Serve) upset the 2018 GI Alabama Stakes and also resides in Japan, having fetched $2.3 million from Shadai Farm at KEENOV in 2019. Eskimo Kisses is the dam of two winners from three to race. The filly's third dam is champion and GI Kentucky Derby heroine Winning Colors (Caro {Ire}), whose immediate descendants have also performed well in Japan. O/B-Kanayama Holdings Co Ltd; T-Kenji Nonaka.
Sunday, January 26, 2025
4th-NKY, ¥11,850,000 ($76k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1200m
REVE DE ANGE (f, 3, Maximum Security–Tiz Midnight, by Midnight Lute), a half-sister to MGSW & GISP Midnight Memories (Mastery), is out of a track record-setting GSW & GISP daughter of Tough Tiz's Sis (Tiznow), winner of the GI Ruffian Handicap and GI Lady's Secret Stakes. Also from the family of MGSW and recent GIII Harlan's Holiday Stakes hero Rocket Can (Into Mischief), Reve de Ange cost this owner $60,000 at last year's OBS June Sale. Tiz Midnight fetched $57,000 in foal to Game Winner at KEENOV last year, while Midnight Memories was sold to Katsumi Yoshida in foal to Curlin for $1.45 million at the same event. O-North Hills Co Ltd; B-Michael E Pegram, Paul Weitman & Karl Watson (KY); T-Hiroko Kawashima
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