Herrschaft

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 Tokyo Racecourses. Group 1 racing returns to Japan with Sunday's running of the February S. at headquarters, in which the very talented Cafe Pharaoh (American Pharoah) is likely to jump a warm favorite: Saturday, February 20, 2021 2nd-HSN,...

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, which awards the horse that accumulates the most points an automatic berth in the gate for the 'Run for the Roses' Sept. 5, has been extended to include two additional races, officials at Churchill Downs announced Friday. The G3 Unicorn S. (1600m) at Tokyo Racecourse Sunday, June 21, has been added to the series, as has the July 8 Japan Dirt Derby, a 10-furlong listed test at Ohi Racecourse. Both races will offer points on a scale of 40-16-8-4 for the top four...

Nakayama Racecourse played host to the $320,629 Fukuryu S. Saturday, an allowance race that serves as the fourth and final scheduled leg on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. With the Run for the Roses delayed to early September, there could be more Japanese points races to follow, but with his 26-1 upset in the 1800-meter test, Herrschaft (Will Take Charge) earned 40 points and--at least for the time being--the Japanese berth in the starting gate at Churchill Downs. Away fairly from gate two, Herrschaft led them under the...

American-conceived Danon Pharaoh (Jpn) (American Pharoah {Jpn}) has drawn the widest gate in a field of 13 for Saturday's ¥34.6 million ($320,253) Fukuryu S. (allowance) at Nakayama Racecourse, the final of four scheduled points race on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. A debut second to the talented Dieu du Vin (Jpn) (Declaration of War), the son of 2010 GI Santa Anita Oaks victress Crisp (El Corredor) was a sound fifth to that rival in the first leg of the series, the Nov. 23 Cattleya Sho (allowance) at Tokyo....