Notable US-Breds in Japan: Dec. 16 & 17, 2017

In this ongoing series, Alan Carasso takes 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, Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses, including strong American-bred representation in the weekend's group action, highlighted by the G1 Asahi Hai Futurity:

Saturday, December 16, 2017
5th-NKY, ¥13,400,000 ($119k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800mT
HOLIDAY MODE (c, 2, Point of Entry) is a debuting son of Augustin Stable's Pennsylvania-bred Sky Holiday (Harlan's Holiday), third in the GIII Virginia Oaks in 2012, winner of the state-bred restricted Mrs. Penny S. at age four and purchased by Shimokobe Farm for $130K carrying this first foal in utero at KEENOV in 2014. Holiday Mode's third dam, 1992 GI Hollywood Starlet S. winner Creaking Board (GB) (Night Shift) was responsible for GSW Crowd Pleaser (A.P. Indy). B-Shimokobe Farm (KY)

5th-CKO, ¥13,400,000 ($119k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
The Maeda family's North Hills Co. Ltd. is represented by first-starter SHIELD ROCK (c, 2, Broken Vow–Love Walked In, by Storm Cat), a maternal grandson of 1993 Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old filly and dual Grade I winner Phone Chatter (Phone Trick). The colt's dam is an unraced full-sister to GSW Cat Chat, the dam of GISW In Lingerie (Empire Maker) from the same Unbridled sire line. Love Walked In was purchased by Mare Madness II in foal to City Zip for $63K at this year's FTKFEB sale. B-North Hills Co Ltd (KY)

Sunday, December 17, 2017
7th-NKY, ¥13,720,000 ($122k), Allowance, 2yo, 1800m
SWING BEAT (c, 2, Tapit&log=">Tapit–Backseat Rhythm, by El Corredor) overcame a slow start to lead home an American-bred one-two finish on Tokyo debut Nov. 11 (video, gate 6), narrowly besting Battle Meister (Bodemeister), who franked the form with an open-lengths tally next time out. The homebred's dam was a leading dirt runner of her generation in 2007, finishing second in the GI Frizette S. and third in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She successfully transferred to the grass in 2008, winning the GI Garden City S. and finishing second in the GI QE II S. B-Shadai Farm (KY)

11th-HSN, G1 Asahi Hai Futurity ¥134m ($1.2m), 2yo, 1600mT
ASAKUSA GENKI (c, 2, Stormy Atlantic–Amelia, by Dixieland Band) broke his maiden at third asking in August (video, gate 1) and promptly added a victory in the G3 Kokura Nisai S. (1200m) the following month (video, gate 17). The $210K KEESEP graduate was most recently a good third to the promising Tower of London (Jpn) (Raven's Pass) in the G3 Keio Hai Nisai S. (1400m) Nov. 4, with whom he squares off again over a slightly longer trip here. Asakusa Genki is one of three group/graded winners this season for his dam, who is also responsible for Rainha da Bateria (Broken Vow) and $750K KEESEP buy Rabbit Run (Tapit), the latter of whom contests Saturday's G3 Turquoise S. at Nakayama. B-Alexander-Groves-Matz (KY)

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