Japan: Pricey sale juvenile From Dusk tries Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity

The Japanese trainer Hideyuki Mori was one of the most prominent buyers at the Ocala Breeders’ Sale auction of 2-year-olds in-training in March.

Among his acquisitions, Mori bought colts for $1.1 million, $900,000, and $700,000. The $900,000 colt is by Bolt d’Oro and named From Dusk. On Sunday, the Kentucky-bred From Dusk starts in Sunday’s Grade 1 Asahi Hai Futurity at a mile at Hanshin Racecourse in Japan.

Owned by Susumu Fujita, From Dusk is part of a field of 18 in Japan’s leading race for 2-year-olds. From Dusk is the only American-bred in the field.

From Dusk won his debut in a race for first-time starters at six furlongs at Kokura Racecourse on Sept. 3, finished last of 10 in the Canna Stakes at Nakayama on Sept. 24, but rebounded to finish second by a length in the Grade 2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes at seven furlongs at Tokyo on Nov. 5 to Obamburumai, who is part of the Asahi Hai Futurity field.

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Obamburumai is undefeated in two starts and rated as a leading contender in the $1,001,600 Asahi Hai Futurity along with All Parfait and the undefeated colts Corpus Christi and Dolce More.

All Parfait, second in his debut in June, has since won twice, including the Grade 2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes at a mile at Hanshin on Nov. 12. All Parfait tends to set the pace.

Corpus Christi, a winner of two starts, will have his stakes debut in the Asahi Hai Futurity after winning two seven-furlong races in which he closed from a tracking position.

Dolce More, another two-time winner, won the Grade 3 Saudi Arabia Royal Cup at a mile at Tokyo on Oct. 8, racing near the front throughout.

From Dusk and the British-bred Labeling are the only runners in the field not bred in Japan. Labeling, by Frankel, won his lone start in a race for first-time starters at a mile at Tokyo on Nov. 26, closing from 11th in a field of 17 to win by 3 1/4 lengths.

The Asahi Hai Futurity has a post time of 2:40 a.m. Eastern on Sunday, or 11:40 p.m. Pacific on Saturday.

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