Notable US-Bred/-Sired Runners in Japan: June 23 & 24, 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 Hakodate, Tokyo and Hanshin Racecourses, the latter of which plays host to Sunday’s G1 Takarazuka Kinen, a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” qualifier.

Saturday, June 23, 2018
2nd-HSN, ¥9,550,000 ($87k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
FINALIZAR (JPN) (f, 3, Congrats–Set Play, by Van Nistelrooy) is the first Japanese produce for her dam, the Peter Miller-trained winner of the 2007 GI Del Mar Debutante who was purchased privately by Northern Farm carrying this filly in utero in 2014. The bay, whose yearling half-sister by Heart’s Cry (Jpn) sells as lot 197 at the upcoming JRHA Select Sale, exits a strong runner-up effort over course and trip June 2. Three of this sire’s four Grade I winners hail from Storm Cat-line mares, including Wickedly Perfect, dam of Japanese Group 2 winner Hartley (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}). B-Northern Farm

Sunday, June 24, 2018
5th-HAK, ¥13,400,000 ($122k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200mT
ASTER PEGASUS (c, 2, Giant’s Causeway–R Heat Lightning, by Trippi) is the first of three foals of racing age to start for his dam, victorious in the 2010 GI Spinaway S. and runner-up to Awesome Feather (Awesome of Course) in that year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and a $1.6-million acquisition by Stonestreet at KEENOV in 2013. A $150K KEESEP yearling, Aster Pegasus is out of a half to GSP Chocolate Coated (Candy Ride {Arg}) and SP Hot Trip (Trippi). B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings (KY)

10th-TOK, ¥28,600,000 ($260k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1400m
JASPER WIN (c, 3, Jimmy Creed–Chick Flick, by Tapit) is another of his sire’s early progeny to punch above its weight, as he carries a record of 6-2-0-2 record into this test. A half-brother to SP Flowmotion (Warrior’s Reward) from the extended female family of GISW Behaving Badly (Pioneering), the $70K KEESEP yearling exits a half-length victory in a track-and-distance allowance test May 26 (see below, gate 4). B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY)

10th-HSN, ¥34,620,000 ($312k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1200m
MATERA SKY (c, 4, Speightstown–Mostaqeleh, by Rahy) has won two of his four outings this term, including a Feb. 17 allowance victory over 1200m at Kyoto (see below, gate 8). That effort earned him a trip to Dubai for the G1 Golden Shaheen and he was hardly disgraced in finishing fifth, beaten five lengths by Shadai-bound Mind Your Biscuits (Posse). A $140K KEENOV weanling turned $350K KEESEP yearling, Matera Sky is kin to three black-type horses, including MSW Nawwaar (Distorted Humor). B-Lynch Bages Ltd (KY)

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