Kokura

Sunday Racing's Mitilini (Jpn) (f, 3, Tapit--Midnight Bisou, by Midnight Lute) came with a sustained run from from far back to graduate in her first try going two turns on the dirt in Saturday's opening race over 1700 meters at Kokura Racecourse. Once second from two tries going 1400 meters on turf to begin her career, the Feb. 24 foal never landed a blow when trying the dirt for the first time going that same distance Nov. 16. Despite being ridden for a bit of early speed from a double-digit...

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 Kokura and Hakodate Racecourses: Saturday, July 19, 2025 5th-KOK, ¥14,250,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT OUT THE LAW (c, 2, Tiz the Law--Davida, by Animal Kingdom) is closely related to Social Code (Constitution), twice stakes-placed in Canada this season, and is...

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 Fukushima and Kokura Racecourses: Sunday, July 6, 2025 5th-FKS, ¥14,250,000 ($98k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT MAKE IT (f, 2, Bolt d'Oro--Holy Legal {Brz}, by Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) is the first foal from her dam, a stakes winner in Brazil in...

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 Sunday running at Kokura Racecourse: Sunday, February 2, 2025 5th-KOK, ¥11,850,000 ($76k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1200mT FOCUS LIGHT (JPN) (f, 3, City of Light--Zest, by Tapit) was acquired by K I Farm for $420,000 when offered in utero at the 2021 Keeneland November Sale. The...

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 Sunday running at Kokura Racecourse: Sunday, July 7, 2024 10th-KOK, ¥29,450,000 ($183k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1200mT PROTOPOROS (JPN) (c, 4, War Front--Cavale Doree {Fr}, by Sunday Break {Jpn}), a debut winner going this distance at Chukyo just over two years ago for the Carrot...

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 Fukushima and Kokura Racecourses: Saturday, June 29, 2024 6th-KOK, ¥13,720,000 ($85k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1000m OTOMENA SHACHO (f, 2, Speightstown--Mylady Curlin, by Curlin) is the second foal and first to the races for her dam, who validated 5-2 favoritism for Sather...

In this continuing 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 Kokura and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, February 24, 2024 3rd-NKY, ¥10,480,000 ($70k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m OTANISAN (c, 3, Justify--American Song {Arg}, by Stripes Song {Arg}) is the first foal from his dam, a Group 1 winner in Argentina who was...

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 Kokura, Kyoto and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, January 13, 2024 4th-KYO, ¥11,850,000 ($82k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m DANON K TWO (JPN) (c, 3, Justify--Enticed {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) is the first foal from a mare that cost 800,000gns ($1.1 million) at the...

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 Kokura and Niigata Racecourses: Saturday, September 2, 2023 5th-KOK, ¥13,720,000 ($94k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT JASPER NOIR (c, 2, Frosted--Funny Bay, by Medaglia d'Oro) cost just $35,000 as a weanling at the 2021 Keeneland November sale, but grew up the right...

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 Kokura, Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses: Saturday, August 12, 2023 2nd-NII, ¥10,480,000 ($72k), Maiden, 2yo, 1800mT ROCK CITY BOY (c, 2, City of Light--Mississippi Coast, by Super Saver) was acquired in utero for $125,000 at the 2021 Keeneland January Sale and...

5th-Kokura, ¥13,400,000 ($95,295), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT, 1:10.1, yl. FROM DUSK (c, 2, Bolt d'Oro--Foolish Cause, by Giant's Causeway) was crunched down to 9-10 favoritism to open his account at first asking and gutted it out over a turf course that might have been easier underfoot than he prefers. Away alertly, the dark bay set the pace, but had company to his outside in the form of third choice Yoshi Tanrei (Jpn) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) as they raced into the turn. More or less on even terms as they cut the...

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 Kokura, Niigata and Sapporo Racecourses: Saturday, September 3, 2022 5th-SAP, ¥13,400,000 ($96k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1500mT EMETH AMOUR (f, 2, Union Rags--Trensa, by Giant's Causeway), a $220,000 Keeneland September graduate, is a full-sister to GISW juvenile and current Spendthrift stallion Free...