Notable US-Breds in Japan: Feb. 9 & 10, 2019

[Wandering Eyes]

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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses, including the stakes debut of an expensive War Front colt:

Saturday, February 9, 2019
3rd-TOK, ¥9,550,000 ($87k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600m
Despite having finished off the board in his first two career starts, North Hills’s IT’S LIT (c, 3, Animal Kingdom–Why Katherine, by Whywhywhy) was not embarrassed, including a close seventh on turf in October before improving a couple of spots over track and trip the following month. Keita Tosaki takes the ride on It’s Lit, the first foal out of MGSP Why Katherine, who was a $120K Keeneland September yearling turned $310K OBS March juvenile. B-Betz, Burns, Magers, CoCo Equine & Terra Racing (KY)

Sunday, February 10, 2019
3rd-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($125k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m
WASHINGTON TESORO (c, 3, Curlin–War Tigress, by War Chant) opened his account by nine eased-down lengths at first asking at Fukushima in November (see below, gate 13) and most recently atoned for a pair of unplaced efforts with a solid second-place finish over track and trip Jan. 14. Bred on the same cross over Danzig responsible for champion Good Magic, the $550K KEESEP yearling is out of a stakes-winning dam whose daughter War Heroine (Lonhro {Aus}) won last year’s grassy GII San Clemente S. at Del Mar. B-Waymore LLC (KY)

 

11th-TOK, Kyodo News Hai-G3, ¥72m ($656k), 3yo, 1800mT
FOSSAMAGNA (c, 3, War Front–River Belle {GB}, by Lahib) was hammered into 4-5 favoritism for his seven-furlong bow at Chukyo Dec. 2 and did not disappoint, edging home to score by 2 1/2 lengths despite a poor break and wide passage (see below, gate 15). River Belle, a Group 3 winner in England at two, was third in the 2004 GI QE II Challenge Cup and subsequently victorious in the GII Mrs. Revere S. in this country and has since become the dam of GSW & GISP Strathnaver (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}). Christophe Lemaire retains the ride on the colt, a $275K KEESEP RNA who ultimately realized $725K as an OBSAPR breezer. The task won’t be easy, as undefeated champion Admire Mars (Jpn) (Daiwa Major {Jpn}) makes his seasonal debut here. B-Lofts Hall Stud (KY)

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