Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: September 8, 2018

[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 Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses, the latter of which sees the return to action of SW Randonnee (Blame) in the G3 Shion S.

Saturday, September 8, 2018
1st-HSN, ¥9,550,000 ($86k), Maiden, 2yo, 1400m
FORT WADSWORTH (c, 2, Verrazano–Opulence, by Giant’s Causeway) transitions to the dirt off a promising fourth on his one-mile debut over the local turf course June 16 (see below, gate 3). A $110,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, the bay is the second foal out of an unraced daughter of champion and GI Belmont S. winner Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), a half-sister to fellow Belmont victor Jazil (Seeking the Gold), Breeders’ Cup Marathon hero and Peruvian sire Man of Iron (Giant’s Causeway) and US GSW & Japanese G1SP Casino Drive (Mineshaft). Mirco Demuro rides. B-Chelston (KY)

5th-HSN, ¥13,400,000 ($121k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT
NOIVA (f, 2, Temple City–Malibu Pier, by Malibu Moon) cost the Maeda family’s North Hills Co. Ltd. $475K at KEESEP last fall, easily the most expensive of her sire’s 54 yearlings to sell in 2017. A daughter of a MGSW & GISP dam, the Jan. 26 foal is kin to SW & GISP Coasted (Tizway)–a $1.3 million purchase by Katsumi Yoshida at FTKNOV last fall–and MGSP Malibu Stacy (Tizway). Second dam Blue Moon (Fr) (Lomitas {GB}) was a SW in France and runner-up in the GI QE II Challenge Cup for B. Wayne Hughes in her US debut in 2000. Four Star Sales, agent for Spendthrift, consigns Noiva’s full-sister to this year’s KEESEP sale as hip 160. B-Spendthrift Farm LLC (KY)

9th-NKY, ¥19,000,000 ($171k), Allowance, 2yo, 1600mT
MEINER ABE (c, 2, Into Mischief–Spring, by Stravinsky) was outside the top three in two tries on dirt to begin his career, but belied odds of 10-1 to graduate in a six-furlong turf test at Kokura Aug. 12 (see below, gate 6). An $85K KEENOV weanling turned $170K KEESEP yearling, the bay is a half-brother to MSW & MGSP Spring Included (Include) and to GISP Pulsion (Include). Meiner Abe’s Verrazano half-sister sells through Four Star as hip 438 at KEESEP next week. B-Robert B Trussell Jr (KY)

11th-HSN, ¥41,800,000 ($377k), Open Class, 3yo/up, 1400m
RYONO TESORO (c, 3, Justin Phillip–Town Belle, by Speightstown) won three of his first four outings, including a pair on the dirt, but annexed the Listed Crocus S. in his turf bow Jan. 27 (video, gate 4). Ryono Tesoro is a maternal grandson of MGSW Clearly A Queen (Lucky North) and his Majestic City half-sister sells through Taylor Made as hip 4026 during session 12 at KEESEP. B-Highland Yard LLC (KY)

11th-NKY, Shion S.-G3, ¥66,600,000 ($601k), 3yo, f, 2000mT
RANDONNEE (f, 3, Blame–Loure, by A.P. Indy) won her maiden over 2000m at second asking and added a stalk-and-pounce victory in the Listed Sweetpea S. (1800m) Apr. 29 (see below, gate 11) two starts later. A half-sister to SW Do the Dance (Discreet Cat), Randonnee is a granddaughter of French Group 3 winner Loving Pride (Quiet American) and was most recently seen finishing 11th to Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) in the G1 Tokyo Yushun (2400m) in May. B-Winchester Farm (KY) –Alan Carasso

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