Offspring of top US sire aiming for Graded title in Leopard Stakes
Thursday, 03 August, 2023 18:59
Bold Zone (Photo by:Yuki Shimono)
In the G3 Leopard Stakes (dirt) to be held at Niigata Racecourse on August 6th, the American-bred horse Bold Zone, a three-year-old colt, will make his first attempt at a Graded stakes race.
Bold Zone is by Mendelssohn out of Halo Dolly, by Popular. He has a half-brother, Barraza, who won the US G3 San Simeon Stakes, and his family includes Hawk Wing, who claimed the G1 Eclipse Stakes (UK) in 2002.
Mendelssohn's progeny have shown promise in the JRA, with 3 out of 4 starters winning races. This will be his first time competing in a JRA Graded stakes event. While Mendelssohn might not be a well-known stallion in Japan, his racing career was impressive, and saw him secure victories in the 2017 US G1 BC Juvenile Turf and the 2018 UAE Derby by a staggering margin of 18-and-a-half lengths. His pedigree is also exceptional, as his half-sister Beholder achieved 11 G1 wins, and his half-brother Into Mischief became a leading sire in North America.
Bold Zone won his debut race in January this year, impressively triumphing by three-and-a-half lengths despite a slow start. Although he finished third in a conditions race in March, he quickly bounced back in May to claim his second victory. He still seems to have untapped potential. While securing a spot in the race through the draw is essential, it will be an exciting sight to see if he can bring his father his first title in Japan.
Bold Zone is by Mendelssohn out of Halo Dolly, by Popular. He has a half-brother, Barraza, who won the US G3 San Simeon Stakes, and his family includes Hawk Wing, who claimed the G1 Eclipse Stakes (UK) in 2002.
Mendelssohn's progeny have shown promise in the JRA, with 3 out of 4 starters winning races. This will be his first time competing in a JRA Graded stakes event. While Mendelssohn might not be a well-known stallion in Japan, his racing career was impressive, and saw him secure victories in the 2017 US G1 BC Juvenile Turf and the 2018 UAE Derby by a staggering margin of 18-and-a-half lengths. His pedigree is also exceptional, as his half-sister Beholder achieved 11 G1 wins, and his half-brother Into Mischief became a leading sire in North America.
Bold Zone won his debut race in January this year, impressively triumphing by three-and-a-half lengths despite a slow start. Although he finished third in a conditions race in March, he quickly bounced back in May to claim his second victory. He still seems to have untapped potential. While securing a spot in the race through the draw is essential, it will be an exciting sight to see if he can bring his father his first title in Japan.