Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby Kicks Off at Tokyo

[Wandering Eyes]

American-bred juveniles are prominent in the market for Saturday’s $172,679 Cattleya Sho (1600m) at Tokyo Racecourse, the first of four races in the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby series.

Heavily favored in ante-post wagering is the California-bred filly Make Happy (Square Eddie), a $650,000 graduate of this year’s Fasig-Tipton Florida sale who carried leading rider Christophe Lemaire to a 10-length victory in a newcomers’ event over track and trip Oct. 7 (see below, gate 10). Racing in the colors of Kazuko Yoshida, Make Happy is a full-sister to 2015 GI Hopeful S. hero Ralis as well as MSW & MGSP B Squared. The early January foal is the 9-10 pick in the field of 14, though she and Lemaire will need to work out a trip from the widest barrier.

Washington Tesoro (Curlin), a half-brother to this year’s GII San Clemente S. winner War Heroine (Lonhro {Aus}), has his fair share of admirers and was the 6-1 third choice in the wagering at the time of this writing. A $550,000 Keeneland September acquisition by Kenji Ryotokuji Holdings last fall, the dark bay was similarly impressive in his career unveiling, scoring by nine eased-down lengths from just off the pace over 1700 meters of the Fukushima dirt course Nov. 4 (video, gate 13).

Two other U.S.-bred runners look to play the role of upsetter. Evacuant (Street Boss), a $130,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling and $200,000 OBS April grad, also made a victorious debut at Tokyo, scoring by 3 1/2 front-running lengths (video, gate 1). Seiun Kobe (Congrats), an $80,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $150,000 OBS March 2-year-old, validated odds-on favoritism when graduating by 3 1/2 lengths in a 1300-meter maiden at Tokyo Nov. 4 (video, gate 2).

The Cattleya Sho, run under allowance conditions, offers points to the top four finishers on a 10-4-2-1 scale. The series continues with the Zennippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki Dec. 19, the Hyacinth S. back at Tokyo Feb. 17 and the Fukuyra S. at Nakayama Mar. 31. The horse that accumulates the most points will earn a berth in the Kentucky Derby.

 

WATCH: Make Happy romps in her career debut

 

Other U.S-Bred runners of note this weekend:

Saturday, November 24, 2018
6th-KYO, ¥13,400,000 ($119k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m
BASIN STREET (c, 2, Curlin–Judith Basin, by Danzig) was a $72K purchase as a weanling out of the 2016 Keeneland November sale and fetched $110K as a Keeneland September yearling. Entered for this year’s OBS March Sale, the May foal breezed a furlong in :10 1/5 and was hammered down to Katsumi Yoshida for $250K. The colt hails from the extended female family of A.P. Indy, Summer Squall and Lemon Drop Kid, among others. B-Dixiana Farms LLC (KY)

8th-TOK, ¥19,950,000 ($177k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1600m
RAMSES BAROWS (c, 3, Curlin–Devious Intent, by Dixie Union) graduated in his second career start and first try on dirt last November (video, gate 6) and most recently returned from a three-month freshening to finish a very good third over this course and distance Oct. 6. The chestnut colt was a $425K KEESEP yearling and $350K OBSMAR breezer. B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY)

Sunday, November 25, 2018
11th-KYO, ¥41,800,000 ($370k), Open Class, 3yo/up, 1200m
MOLTO ALLEGRO (f, 3, Speightstown–Mo Chuisle, by Free House), a debut winner on dirt last June, has since won two of five starts on the turf, including a victory in listed company at this track this past January (video, gate 8). The $525K KEESEP yearling is a half-sister to the late MGISW & champion Points Offthebench (Benchmark) and GSW Bench Points (Benchmark) and makes her first appearance since March. B-Town & Country Horse Farms LLC & Frank & Kim Taylor (KY)

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