Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: May 4, 2018

[Wandering Eyes]

In this ongoing 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, the latter of which plays host to sophomore milers who get a crack at Group 1 black-type in the NHK Mile Cup:

Sunday, May 6, 2018
3rd-KYO, ¥9,550,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800mT
TRUMP CANDY (c, 3, Candy Ride {Arg}–Gottahaveadream, by Indian Charlie), a $100K KEESEP acquisition, really quickened up once switching leads and clocked :10 flat (see below) before selling for $400K as a BARMAR breezer in 2017. The Mar. 31 foal is out of a winning half-sister to GISW Here Comes Ben (Street Cry {Ire}), while his Grade I-winning third dam Race the Wild Wild (Sunny’s Halo) is responsible for GSW & G1SP Meshaheer (Nureyev) and the dam of GISWs Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great) and Daredevil (More Than Ready). B-Siena Farms LLC (KY)

5th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($126k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m
JUPITER CALLISTO (c, 3, Curlin–Moonlight Lover, by Bernardini) ran fairly in a pair of starts on the grass to kick off his career, but switched to the dirt last time to graduate by 2 1/2 lengths Mar. 24 (gate 2). The Louisiana-bred is a grandson of the good dirt sprinter and MGSW Katz Me If You Can (Storm Cat), the dam of GISP Mississippi (Pioneerof the Nile), set to contest Saturday’s GIII Pat Day Mile S. Third dam Cuddles (Mr. Prospector) won the 1990 GI Hollywood Starlet S. B-Circle H Farms (LA)

11th-TOK, NHK Mile Cup-G1, ¥205m ($1.9m), 3yo, 1600mT
A trio of US-bred runners take their place in this 18-strong field, headed by the very talented MR MELODY (c, 3, Scat Daddy–Trusty Lady, by Deputy Minister). No worse than second in his five starts to date, the bay scored over the Tokyo dirt Feb. 3 and most recently made a successful transition to turf to win the G3 Falcon S. (1400m) Mar. 17 (gate 10). A half-brother to GSP Trendy Lady (Unbridled’s Song), Mr Melody was a $75K KEESEP RNA, a $100K KEESEP yearling and a $400K OBSAPR juvenile. Mr Melody is joined in the field by GSP Delta Barows (Into Mischief) and Ryono Tesoro (Justin Phillip). B-Bell Tower Thoroughbreds (KY)

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