Another American Pharoah Wins on Dirt in Japan

American Pharoah celebrated his 24th first-crop winner when A Shin Amen Ra led at every call to take a Hanshin dirt newcomers' race by an imperious seven lengths in Japan Saturday. Sent off at 11-1, the $325,000 KEESEP yearling covered the 1800-meter trip in 1:55.80. (VIDEO). The Eishindo Co. Ltd. silkbearer and Kenji Nonaka trainee is the fourth winner-all on dirt–from six runners in the Land of the Rising Sun for his Triple Crown-winning sire. The others are: Nile River, Danon Pharoah (Jpn) and the filly Clepat.

“He responded well to me and jumped well from the gate,” said winning jockey Yuichi Fukunaga of the son of I O Ireland (Giant's Causeway). “The surface suited him.”

Hatoof S. heroine I O Ireland, a daughter of GSW Ioya Two (Lord at War {Arg}), has a colt of 2019 by Into Mischief and she was covered by Uncle Mo this spring.  I O Ireland is a half-sister to MGSW Ioya Bigtime (Dynaformer), GSW Amazing Results (Grand Slam), SW Mavericking (Empire Maker) and MSP Another Mystery (Temple City). Mystery Giver (Dynaformer), a MGSW, is a half-sister to Ioya Two.