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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses:
Sunday, October 26, 2025
4th-KYO, ¥14,250,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
DANON BOURBON (c, 2, Maxfield–Wild Ridge, by Tapit) is a half-brother to three winners, including the stakes-placed Clubhouse (Speightstown), and was a $450,000 Keeneland September purchase by Katsumi Yoshida. The winning Wild Ridge is a daughter of three-time Grade III scorer Wild Gams (Forest Wildcat), also the dam of MGSW 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Cazadero (Street Sense); 2022 GII Remsen Stakes hero Dubyuhnell (Good Magic); and SW Mt. Brave (Malibu Moon). Wild Gams is additionally the granddam of Gastrique (Jpn) (Just A Way {Jpn}), a Group 2 winner at two in Japan in 2022; and of recent Discovery Stakes third Light Forever (Frosted). The yearling relation to Danon Bourbon, a colt by Nyquist, fetched $750,000 at KEESEP last month. Maxfield is already the sire of the Japanese-based 'TDN Rising Star' presented by Hagyard Magna Victor. O-Danox Co Ltd; B-Blue Heaven Farm (KY); T-Manabu Ikezoe
6th-TOK, ¥14,250,000 ($93k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1400mT
BUKUBUKU (c, 2, Yaupon–Vietnam, by Violence) is the first runner for his dam and was a $100,000 Keeneland September yearling before hammering for $150,000 at this year's OBS April Sale (under-tack preview). Vietnam is a half-sister to a pair of winners, including SW Yes She's a Lady (Yes It's True), while the bulk of the black-type in the family comes under the Grade III-winning third dam Gather The Clan (Ire) (General Assembly). She is the dam of MGSW Greater Good (Intidab) and dual Grade I winner Pure Clan (Pure Prize), herself responsible for SW & GISP Princesa Carolina (Tapit). This is also the family of GISW and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies third Sky Diva (Sky Mesa). O-Kazuhiro Msauda; B-Machmer Hall, Mr & Mrs Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY); T-Minoru Oguri
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