Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Sept. 15-17, 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 Japanese holiday weekend running at Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses:

Saturday, September 15, 2018
6th-NKY, ¥13,400,000 ($120k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1200m
LISA OF THE NILE (f, 2, Pioneerof the Nile–Lisa T., by Awesome Again), a $350K graduate of last year’s Keeneland September sale, is out of a multiple stakes-placed daughter of Supercharger (A.P. Indy), the dam of 2010 GI Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver (Maria’s Mon) and GSWs Cyrus Alexander (Medaglia d’Oro) and Brethren (Distorted Humor). The filly’s third dam includes Grade I winners Imagining (Giant’s Causeway), Girolamo (A.P. Indy), Got Lucky (A.P. Indy) and Bluegrass Cat (Storm Cat). Her yearling full-sister was purchased by Tommy Town Thoroughbreds for $185,000 this past Monday at the Keeneland September sale. B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY)

Sunday, September 16, 2018
3rd-NAK, ¥9,550,000 ($85k), Maiden, 2yo, 1600mT
SPOKANE TESORO (f, 2, Scat Daddy–Nimue, by Speightstown), a $275K buyback out of the 2016 Keeneland November sale and $340K Fasig-Tipton Saratoga grad, is a half-sister to the SP Isomer (Cape Blanco {Ire}) and is out of a winning half-sister to Go Rockin Robin (Distorted Humor). The January foal exits an improved third-place effort at Sapporo Aug. 19 (video, gate 4). A yearling half-brother by The Factor sells next week as hip 1915 at KEESEP. B-Summerhill Farm (KY)

12th-NKY, ¥14,250,000 ($127k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1200m
OPERA GLOVES (f, 3, Speightstown–Funny Moon, by Malibu Moon) made a single trip to the races last season at two, coming from just offf the speed to graduate by a head last September (video, gate 5). A $180K KEESEP yearling, Opera Gloves is out of the 2009 GI CCA Oaks winner who was purchased by Len Riggio’s My Meadowview Stable for $2.3 million at FTKNOV in 2011. A Curlin half-sister to Opera Gloves was sold to Gayle Van Leer, agent, for $135K at Keeneland Thursday afternoon. B-My Meadowview LLC (KY)

Monday, September 17, 2018
12th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($127k), Allowance, 3yo/up, 1200m
TSUBURANA HITOMI (c, 3, More Than Ready–Always Auditioning, by Mizzen Mast) posted two seconds and a victory in his first three tries on dirt, including a maiden-breaking score at Hanshin in February. A full-brother to GSW Ready to Act, he’s been well-beaten in his last two, but both were over rain-affected tracks he may not have liked. Tsuburana Hitomi, produced by a full-sister to GISW Mast Track, was RNAd for $300K at KEESEP in 2016 and made $200K as an OBSAPR juvenile. B-Fred W Hertrich III (KY) –@EquinealTDN

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