Pricey Liam’s Map Colt Tries The Turf at Hanshin

[Wandering Eyes]

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 Nakayama Racecourses:

Saturday, March 7, 2026
5th-HSN, ¥11,280,000 ($72k), Maiden, 3yo, 1600mT
AMERICAN SAKURA (c, 3, Liam's Map–Schon, by Harlan's Holiday) was effectively distanced when debuting over 1800 meters on dirt at Nakayma Dec. 7, but switches to the grass for this second go and has some pedigree to appreciate the surface switch. A $400,000 Keeneland September yearling, the bay is out of a half-sister to Augustin Stables' GI Woodford Reserve Manhattan Stakes hero Spring Quality (Quality Road) and a full-sister to Holiday Star, winner of the GIII Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland. Third dam Alice Springs (Val de l'Orne {Fr}), Group 3-placed in France, was a three-time graded winner and on the board in the GI Caesars International Stakes and GI Beverly D. Stakes in this country for Jonathan Sheppard. O-Yoshizawa Holdings Co Ltd; B-Benson Farm (KY); T-Yoshito Yahagi

Sunday, March 8, 2026
2nd-NKY, ¥11,280,000 ($72k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m
DEA PRIMUS (f, 3, Knicks Go–As I Please, by Majestic Warrior) kicked off with a 10th going the metric mile and a quarter on the turf at Kokura Jan. 24, but showed a fair bit of improvement when shortened to 1400 meters on the main track at Kyoto Feb. 15, finishing third. A $55,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $85,000 OBS April breezer, the New York-bred is out of a winning daughter of SW & GSP French Kiss (Hussonet), also the dam of GISP Fuhriously Kissed (Langfuhr). The stakes-winning third dam Ornate (Gilded Time) produced GI Apple Blossom Handicap victress On Fire Baby (Smoke Glacken) and GII Fantasy Stakes winner High Heels (E Dubai). O-Normandy Thoroughbred Racing Co Ltd; B-Everything's Cricket Racing (NY); T-Toshiaki Tajima

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