Notable US-Bred Runners in Japan: Jan. 12 & 13, 2020 – Thoroughbred Daily News

By Alan Carasso

In this continuing series, we take 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 coming Sunday and Monday running at Nakayama and Kyoto Racecourses:

Sunday, January 12, 2020
1st-NKY, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1200m
DETROIT TESORO (f, 3, Speightstown–Bella Traviata, by Indian Charlie) ran with credit to be third, each time at less than 4-1, in seven-furlong turf events at Tokyo in October and at Chukyo last month. She cuts back a bit in trip and should take to the dirt on pedigree, as her stakes-placed dam is a half-sister to Afleet Deceit (Northern Afleet), herself a black-type winner and three times graded placed on the main track. A $190K buyback at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, she RNAd for $127K at FTKOCT and improved into a $375K FTFMAR breezer last year. B-Blackstone Farm (PA)

3rd-KYO, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1400m
AMERICAN NINA (f, 3, Carpe Diem–Mane Princess, by Mineshaft) may not have preferred a rain-affected track when a debut sixth at Toyko Oct. 5, but she showed marked improvement over a dry strip last time, fighting on gamely to finish narrowly runner-up (see below, gate 10). A $110K Keeneland November weanling turned $260K KEESEP yearling, the late March foal is out of a daughter of SW & GISP Extended Applause (Exbourne), the dam of GSW Channel Marker (Purim). B-Catherine Jennings & Marian Kuhatschek (MD)

4th-KYO, ¥11,400,000 ($104k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1200m
DYLAN’S SONG (c, 3, Summer Front–Poetic Riches, by Songandaprayer), bought back on a bid of $75K at KEESEP in 2018, then was knocked down to Katsumi Yoshida for $130K at OBS March last year (:10 1/5), the second most expensive of his sire (by War Front)’s first-crop juveniles sold in the U.S. in 2019 and fourth-highest overall. Dylan’s Song, out of a half to MGSP Hard Seven (Rock Hard Ten), gets the debut endorsement from Christophe Lemaire and goes out for the Silk Racing syndicate that campaigns 2018 Japanese Horse of the Year Almond Eye (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) among many other successful runners. B-Erin Knehr & Catalyst Bloodstock (KY)

Monday, January 13, 2020
3rd-NKY, ¥9,680,000 ($88k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m
MR SAND (c, 3, Tapit–Smart Surprise, by Smart Strike), a $400K KEESEP purchase, gave a solid account of himself on his course-and-distance unveiling Nov. 30, finishing third and less than two lengths off the victorious US-bred Seattle Tesoro (Will Take Charge) (video, gate 6). A son of GSW Smart Surprise, Mr Sand is a half-brother to Sovereign Award winner and MGSW Moonlit Promise (Malibu Moon), who is in turn kin to MGISW Court Vision (Gulch), SW Garcia Marquez (Gulch) and MSW/MGSP Lord Snowdon (Seeking the Gold). Third dam Weekend Surprise (Secretariat) produced A.P. Indy and Summer Squall, et al. B-Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings Inc (KY)

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