Notable US-Breds in Japan: May 12 & 13, 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. Though not featured here, US-breds Rabbit Run (Tapit) and Rieno Tesoro (Speightstown) are entered for Sunday’s $1.8-million G1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo:

Saturday, May 12, 2018
6th-TOK, ¥13,200,000 ($125k), Allowance, 3yo, 1600m
A popular debut winner over course and distance Jan. 27 (gate 15), PRINCESS NONKO (JPN) (f, 3, Orb–Seaneen Girl, by Spring At Last) will look to bounce back from a fifth in stakes company on the turf at Nakayama Mar. 11. Her MGSW dam was purchased for $525K with this filly in utero at KEENOV in 2015 and she has since produced a Heart’s Cry (Jpn) filly that fetched ¥92 million (about $807K) as a yearling at last year’s JRHA Select Sale. B-Shadai Farm

Sunday, May 13, 2018
5th-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($125k), Allowance, 3yo, 1800m
AGNESE (f, 3, Ghostzapper–We’ll Be There {Jpn}, by Sunday Silence) did not do a whole lot of running in two starts on the turf to begin her career, but sprung to life when switched to the dirt for the first time, causing a 30-1 boilover to graduate by a nose at Fukushima Apr. 22. Her winning dam was offered in foal to Palace Malice at KEENOV last fall, but was bought back on a bid of $22,000. B-North Hills Co Ltd (KY)

6th-TOK, ¥13,720,000 ($125k), Allowance, 1400m
JASPER WIN (c, 3, Jimmy Creed–Chick Flick, by Tapit), a maiden winner at second asking going this distance, failed to handle the stretch out to nine panels next time, but cut back to this trip and finished a good third from a high draw at Kyoto Apr. 29 (gate 15). The $70K KEESEP grad, a half to SP Flowmotion (Warrior’s Reward), gets a major upgrade in the saddle to Christophe Lemaire. B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY)

10th-TOK, ¥34,200,000 ($313k), Open Class, 3yo, 1600m
SWING BEAT (c, 3, Tapit–Backseat Rhythm, by El Corredor) graduated first time out over course and distance (gate 6) and has since placed once in three starts going 1800m. He gets tested for class here, as among the competition is Sumahama (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), who won the Listed Hyancinth S. and with it a berth in the GI Kentucky Derby, but ultimately passed on the opportunity. Swing Beat’s dam was a Grade I winner on turf who RNAd for $2.5 million at FTKNOV in 2008. B-Shadai Farm (KY)

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