Johar heads Japan Cup crew

Six American-trained horses, led by Breeders' Cup Turf dead-heat winner Johar, have accepted invitations for Japan Cup Weekend in Tokyo.

Trained by Richard Mandella, Johar heads four Americans in the Grade 1, $4.3 million Japan Cup, a 1 1/2-mile turf race scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 30. He will be joined by last year's Japan Cup runner-up, Sarafan, as well as the Manhattan Handicap winner, Denon, and Man o' War runner-up, Slew Valley.

The Japan Cup has also attracted Islington, winner of the BC Filly and Mare Turf. She will be joined by two French trainees, Ange Gabriel and Ana Marie. Fields of Omagh, recent winner of the W.S. Cox Plate in Australia, completes the group of eight foreign challengers who will line up against six Japanese-trained runners.

Fleetstreet Dancer, runner-up in the Goodwood Handicap to subsequent Breeders' Cup Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect, and Outta Here have accepted invitations to run in the Grade 1 Japan Cup Dirt, a 1 5/16-mile contest worth $2.1 million that will be run on Saturday, Nov 29.