Japanese duo U.S.-bound

Japanese females Dance in the Mood and Asahi Rising are headed to California for Hollywood Park's big invitational turf races over the Fourth of July weekend, the Japan Racing Association announced Friday.

For Dance in the Mood, who will go in the brand-new CashCall Mile for fillies and mares on July 1, it will be her second trip to Hollywood. A 5-year-old daughter of Sunday Silence, she was there two years ago, finishing second in the inaugural American Oaks. Trained by Kazuo Fujisawa, she was a close fifth last time in the one-mile Grade 1 Yasuda Kinen against males. On May 14 she recorded her first victory in two years, landing the Grade 1 Victoria Mile at Tokyo.

Headed to the July 2 American Oaks is Asahi Rising. Trained by Masaaki Koga, she finished a length third behind Kawakami Princess in the 1 1/2-mile Japanese Oaks at Tokyo on May 21. Asahi Rising had previously finished a close fourth in the one-mile Japanese 1000 Guineas after having led to midstretch.

Both Dance in the Mood and Asahi Rising are expected to arrive at Hollywood on June 19.

The Japan Racing Association also reported that the Japanese Horse of the Year, Deep Impact, will run in the 1 3/8-mile Takarazuka Kinen at Kyoto on June 25 before departing for Europe and a tilt at the Arc de Triomphe. Meanwhile, the Dubai Sheema Classic winner, Heart's Cry, the only horse to defeat Deep Impact, is on course for Ascot's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes on July 29.