By Alan Carasso
Yoshizawa Holding Co. Ltd's American Stage (Into Mischief), who returned from a six-month layoff to just miss in a 1200-meter allowance at Kyoto Racecourse on Oct. 5, is being pointed for an appearance in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint at Del Mar on Saturday, Nov. 1, according to a report from the Netkeiba website in Japan.
A $500,000 Keeneland September yearling, the Spendthift Farm-bred 3-year-old colt posted a record of 3-2-1 from six juvenile appearances, including a three-race winning streak that culminated with a 3 1/2-length victory in his lone try on the grass at Chukyo last December.
Somewhat audaciously sent to Dubai over the winter, the bay was a creditable second to top sprinter Tuz (Oxbow) in the G3 Mahab Al Shimaal on the Super Saturday program at Meydan Mar. 1 and was a late invitee to the Apr. 5 G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, finishing sixth to Dark Saffron (Flameaway).
Making his first start since as the 9-10 favorite over the weekend, the Yoshito Yahagi trainee was ridden positively from the nine hole by Ryusei Sakai and set a pressured pace in advance of the 4-year-old filly Tagano Mist (Jpn) (Majestic Warrior) through strong fractions of :23.1 and :46.3. American Stage managed to put a length and a bit on Tagano Mist into the final furlong, but he was nabbed in the final couple of strides by his female rival and dropped a neck decision. The final time was a crisp 1:09.4 (video).
“If there's nothing wrong after the race, we'll head [to the U.S.],” Yahagi told Netkeiba.
Yahagi is a two-time winner at the Breeders' Cup, having upset the 2021 GI Distaff with Marche Lorraine (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) before saddling Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) at a much shorter price in the GI Filly & Mare Turf. Both wins came at Del Mar.
Sakai is the regular rider of Forever Young (Jpn) (Real Steel {Jpn}), who will be one of the top three or four picks to improve on his third-place effort in last year's GI Classic behind his close relative, 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Sierra Leone (Gun Runner). Forever Young is campaigned by owner Susumu Fujita.
2025.10.05 10R藤森S@京都競馬場
アメリカンステージ 坂井瑠星騎手(🥈着/1番人気)#2025ryusei pic.twitter.com/VZoECfQ5ZP— やま (@umayama3) October 6, 2025
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