We might have seen a new star of the dirt on the rise Jan. 24 at Nakayama Racecourse when Kentucky-bred American Seed (by Tapit ) won the Alexandrite Stakes for three-time winners by five lengths.
Out of Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ Challenge Cup (G1T) winner Sweet Talker, American Seed was bred by Courtlandt Farm and purchased by Katsumi Yoshizawa of Yoshizawa Stable from the Lane's End consignment to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $825,000.
As his dam is a grade 1 winner on grass, Kenichi Fujioka—who trains the colt—selected a turf race for American Seed's debut at Hanshin Racecourse in December 2019. The colt was successful over the grass, winning the 1,800-meter (about nine-furlong) maiden with ease.
However, after being well beaten in an allowance for one-time winners on turf in July 2020, Fujioka decided to switch surfaces and the results have proved fruitful. American Seed won an 1,800-meter dirt allowance at Kyoto Oct. 24 by seven lengths. He followed that performance with another five-length victory in the Inuyama Tokubetsu, a stake for two-time winners over 1,900 meters (about 9 1/2 furlongs) on dirt at Chukyo Racecourse Dec.12.
"He has very good natural speed and is still calm and composed," said jockey Christophe Lemaire, who rode American Seed in the Alexandrite Stakes.
The now 4-year-old will likely step up to graded company on his next start. Yoshizawa enjoys racing in the United States, as he also campaigned Master Fencer, who competed in the 2019 U.S. Triple Crown. Therefore it is likely that a major dirt race in America could be in store for American Seed later this year.
