American Pharoah

11th-Hanshin, Coral S.-Listed, ¥45,970,000 ($308,735), 4yo/up, 1400m, 1:24.2, ft. ADVANCE PHAROAH (h, 5, American Pharoah--Fair Huntress, by Tiznow) became the sixth Japanese stakes winner for his sire with a 28-1 surprise. Ridden for speed from gate three, the $140,000 Keeneland September yearling graduate took them along under a nice hold and maintained a narrow advantage over the stalking T M Listed (Jpn) (Maurice {Jpn}) into the turn. Clinging to the lead with his year-younger rival breathing down his neck, Advance Pharoah led into the final 200 meters and refused to...

3rd-Santa Anita, $65,500, Msw, 3-14, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.94, ft, 1 1/4 lengths. VOLDEMORT (c, 3, Good Magic--Beauty Buzz, by Bernardini) couldn't reel in 'TDN Rising Star' Tiz Secure (Maximum Security) in their mutual unveiling Feb. 22, but the 8-5 favorite more than got the job done here with a workman-like effort on the front end. Quickly to the front to control the pace, he came under pressure after the half in :45.78 and tried to give the field the slip entering the second bend. On a clear lead, but...

1st-Oaklawn, $110,000, Msw, 2-23, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.48, ft, 3 1/4 lengths. CLEVER AGAIN (c, 3, American Pharoah--Flattering {Ire} {GSW-Ire, SP-Eng}, by Galileo {Ire}) finished runner up in his debut going 4 1/2 panels at Keeneland last April and was benched for the remainder of the season. Marking his return while stretched past a mile for the first time, the 2-1 favorite took control from the onset, led at every call and was 3 1/4-lengths clear of Shepherd (Laoban) at the wire. A full-sister to English and Irish champion Love...

We're inside the 13-week mark to the GI Kentucky Derby with no seismic changes to the running order at this early stage of the season. The rankings are fairly evenly distributed among contenders based on both coasts and in Kentucky, Arkansas and Louisiana. 1) FIRST RESORT (c, Uncle Mo-Fair Maiden, by Street Boss). O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Eoin G. Harty. Lifetime record GSW, 4-2-1-0, $338,671. Last start: WON Nov. 30 GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes. First Resort's 6-1 win in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes Nov. 30 rated as the most visually...

5th-FG, $58K, Msw, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 4:15 p.m. ET. Whisper Hill homebred STRAIGHT FORWARD (American Pharoah) makes her first start for Mandy Pope and trainer Steve Asmussen. The filly's dam, Aloof (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), was acquired by the farm at the 2014 Keeneland November Sale for a cool $3.9 million. Herself out of English Group 1 winner Airwave (GB) (Air Express {Ire}), Aloof is a half-sister to the dam of full-siblings MG1SW Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and G1SW Clemmie. Set for her unveiling is another homebred, Good Going (Mendelssohn),...

The biggest surprise of the two-and-a-half hour livestream which revealed Resolute Racing's mating plans for 2025 was that Puca will be bred to Frankel (GB) on Southern Hemisphere time. That was only one of the revelations as John Stewart--accompanied by Coolmore's Adrian Wallace, Resolute Racing's Director of Breeding and Bloodstock Chelsey Stone, farm manager Noel Murphy, and general manager Gavin O'Connor--discussed the 2025 matings for his 41 mares in the livestream. Several stallions will receive multiple mares; Resolute will send four mares to Justify, three to American Pharoah, two to...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this weekend running at Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, January 25, 2025 3rd-CKO, ¥11,850,000 ($76k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1400m BLUE AROMA (f, 3, American Pharoah--Comical, by Into Mischief) is the first foal from her dam, winner of the 2019 GIII Schuylerville Stakes, second in the...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this extended weekend running at Chukyo and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, January 11, 2025 3rd-CKO, ¥11,850,000 ($75k), Newcomers, 3yo, 1800m QUEEN'S CHOCOLAT (JPN) (f, 3, Tiz the Law--Ahh Chocolate, by Candy Ride {Arg}) is the first Japanese-foaled produce for her dam, a two-time graded winner...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Nakayama Racecourse: Saturday, December 28, 2024 5th-NKY, ¥13,720,000 ($87k), Newcomers, 2yo, 2000mT SPARKLE NOVA (JPN) (f, 2, Authentic--Magic Fountain, by War Front) is the second foal to the races out of a daughter of 2014 G1 Darley Irish Oaks winner...

In this continuing series, we take a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the horses of interest for this Saturday running at Kyoto Racecourse: Saturday, December 21, 2024 5th-KYO, ¥13,720,000 ($88k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1600mT STIR HEART (JPN) (f, 2, Gun Runner--Speech, by Pulpit) is the first foal to race from her dam, who caused a mild upset in taking out the 2020...

In this continuing series, Alan Carasso takes a look ahead at US-bred and/or conceived runners entered for the upcoming weekend at the tracks on the Japan Racing Association circuit, with a focus on pedigree and/or performance in the sales ring. Here are the US-sired horses of interest for this weekend—each by American Pharoah--running at Nakayama and Kyoto Racecourses: Saturday, December 14, 2024 6th-NKY, ¥13,720,000 ($89k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m ONE CARD FELLOW (JPN) (c, 2, American Pharoah--One Card too Many, by Drosselmeyer), whose dam was purchased for $160,000 with this colt...

For the past two weeks, we have been telling you how some of racing's biggest names fell in love with the sport. Now it's our turn. Here are some of the stories behind the bylines you see every day in the TDN. Stefanie Grimm, Staff Writer For me, racing was a natural continuation born from a love of all things horses and athletics. Growing up as the only horse person in a very much non-horse family, my only exposure to racing was when I joined millions of viewers each year...