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 Fukushima and Hakodate Racecourses:
Saturday, June 26, 2026
6th-FKS, ¥14,880,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1150m
PALACE RUN (c, 2, Volatile–Fast Jet Court {Brz}, by Courtier) is the first foal to the races for his dam, whose six victories from nine starts in her native Brazil included Group 1s over seven and eight furlongs before she was acquired privately by this breeder and sent to this country. Unplaced in five appearances in 2021 and 2022 for trainer Michael McCarthy, she visited this stallion in 2023 in her first year at stud. The colt's broodmare sire is a stakes-winning close relative to MGISW Emollient (Empire Maker) and a half to SW & MGISP Hofburg (Tapit) and to the dam of this year's GIII Senorita Stakes winner Marjoram (Quality Road). O/B-Aoshiba Shoji Co Ltd (KY); T-Takahisa Tesuka
Sunday, June 27, 2026
5th-HAK, ¥14,880,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
SHIGURE (f, 2, Twirling Candy–Ferdinanda, by Giant's Causeway), whose dam carried the silks of breeder Ann Mudge Backer to a six-length victory in the 2019 Brookmeade Stakes at Colonial Downs, was purchased for $150,000 out of the 2025 Keeneland September sale. A daughter of SP My Mammy (Came Home), Ferdinanda is a half-sister to Out For a Spin (Hard Spun), who returned 52-1 in upsetting the 2019 GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes, and to SW Sweet Victory (Blame). The extended female family includes GISW Bandini (Fusaichi Pegasus) and Stormy Atlantic (Storm Cat). Yutaka Take has the riding assignment. O-KSHD; B-Ann Mudge Backer/Smitten Farm (VA); T-Hidenori Take
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