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 Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses:
Saturday, September 20, 2025
3rd-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m
KATTAPPA (c, 2, Speightstown–Smuggler's Moon, by Gun Runner) was bought back on a bid of $75,000 out of last year's Keeneland September Sale and was knocked down to this trainer for $115,000 at this year's OBS April Sale after breezing an eighth of a mile in :10 1/5. The March foal's unraced dam, a half-sister to 2017 GI Pennsylvania Derby third Giuseppe the Great (Lookin At Lucky) and SP Gibby (Tizway), is the first daughter of Gun Runner to be represented by a starter. The deeper family includes 3-year-old stakes winners Indian Ocean and Megan's Halo. O-Naoya Fujii; B-Buck Pond Farm Inc (KY); T-Hideyuki Mori
TAKASUTAKASUTAKASU (c, 2, Mor Spirit–Mopsicle, by Liam's Map) was purchased for just $3,000 as a short yearling at the 2024 Keeneland January Sale and made for a nice profit when hammering to Pick View for $62,000 at the OBS October Sale. Consigned to this year's OBS March Sale by the latter operation, the Feb. 21 foal went a quarter-mile in a snappy :20 2/5 and was snapped up by Emmanuel de Seroux's Narvick International for $450,000. Ryusei Sakai has the riding assignment. O-Katsuya Takasu; B-Twin Oaks Bloodstock (KT); T-Hideaki Fujiwara
Sunday, September 21, 2025
4th-NKY, ¥14,250,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
BOOM BAP BEAT (c, 2, Into Mischief–Point of Honor, by Curlin) is set to become the first starter for his dam, winner of the GII Black-Eyed Susan Stakes and subsequently runner-up in the GI Acorn Stakes and GI Alabama Stakes at three. The chestnut was a nose second in the GI Ogden Phipps Stakes and third in the GI Personal Ensign Stakes at four in 2020 and made a single appearance at five before being retired. Boom Bap Beat was purchased by this trainer for $1.25 million at last year's Keeneland September Sale and he looks to become the fourth high-profile debut winner in as many weeks for this barn. The Gun Runner half-brother to Boom Bap Beat was purchased by M.V. Magnier and White Birch Farm for $1.5 million during last week's Book 1 at KEESEP. O-Susumu Fujita; B-Alpha Delta Stables LLC (KY); T-Mitsumasa Nakauchida
6th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
BLANC DE BLANCS (JPN) (c, 2, Frosted–Orchestrate, by Tiznow) is out of a full-sister to 2005 champion 2-year-old filly Folklore, who was sold to J S Company for $200,000 with this colt in utero at the 2023 Keeneland January Sale. Orchestrate is also a half-sister to MSP Delightful Quality (Elusive Quality), the dam of dual Eclipse Award-winning 'TDN Rising Star' Essential Quality (Tapit), while Folkore's daughter Rhodochrosite (Unbridled's Song) is responsible for Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). Blanc de Blancs has the services of leading rider Yuga Kawada. O-Yuji Hasegawa; B-Mishima Bokujo; T-Haruki Sugiyama
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