American Pharoah

4th-Belmont The Big A, $90,000, Msw, 6-23, 2yo, 6fT, 1:08.85, fm, 1 1/4 lengths. PHAROAH'S DYNASTY (c, 2, American Pharoah--Funfair {SW}, by More Than Ready) went off as the 5-2 second choice for this debut and the colt wasted no time wrangling the lead away from a longshot up the backstretch. Looking awfully professional around the far turn, the 2-year-old gunned his engine down the lane and graduated at first asking by 1 1/4 lengths over West Beach (Omaha Beach). The last registered foal for his dam, the winner is...

7th-CD, $120K, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 3:51 p.m. ET. Coteau Grove homebred and first-time starter EYE OF THE PHARAOH (American Pharoah) is out of unraced dam You Caught My Eye (Can the Man), who the farm purchased for $230,000 at the 2020 Keeneland November Sale with the filly in utero. Trained by Brad Cox, the 3-year-old's second dam, MSW Halo River (Irish River), is responsible for Canadian Horse of the Year Catch A Glimpse (City Zip) and north of the border multiple-leading sire Old Forester (Forestry). Also set for her...

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 horses of interest for this weekend running at Hakodate, Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, June 8, 2024 3rd-HAK, ¥10,480,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1000m ARGENTINITA (JPN) (f, 3, Constitution--Way to Versailles, by Tizway) fetched just $16,000 at the 2016 OBS June Sale, then punched well above her weight...

A trio of graded stakes, led by the GI Gamely S. and GI Shoemaker Mile S., will anchor a stacked Memorial Day holiday program at Santa Anita on Monday. Making her first start since capturing the GI American Oaks Dec. 26, Anisette (GB) (Awtaad {Ire}) headlines a deep nine-horse field set for the Gamely. The Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners colorbearer also captured last term's GI Del Mar Oaks. "We gave her a small vacation that was much deserved," trainer Leonard Powell said of the Gamely's 5-2 morning-line favorite. "She's come back...

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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, May 25, 2024 2nd-KYO, ¥10,480,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m IZANAGI (c, 3, City of Light--Miss Squeal, by Smart Strike) cost $625,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September sale and was the latest of his dam's produce...

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 is one horse of interest for this Saturday running at Kyoto Racecourse: Saturday, May 18, 2024 1st-KYO, ¥10,480,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m BEL DINAH PHAROAH (JPN) (f, 3, American Pharoah--Gianna Schicchi, by War Front) is out of a half-sister to His Highness The Aga Khan's Shareta (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}), runner-up...

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 Kyoto and Tokyo Racecourses: Saturday, May 11, 2024 3rd-KYO, ¥10,480,000 ($67k), Maiden, 3yo, 1900m CRITICAL HIT (c, 3, American Pharoah--Mythical Mission, by Giant's Causeway) was a creditable fifth on his Hanshin debut over 1800 meters Mar. 30 and returned on...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features the top-priced lot from the 2022 Goffs Orby sale. 15.15 Great Yarmouth, Mdn, £8,000, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f 3yT Andrew Balding trainee RUN AWAY (IRE) (No Nay Never), a full-sister to dual Group 1-winning sire Blackbeard (Ire), was the top-priced lot at Goffs' 2022 Orby sale and...

by Jessica Martini & Stefanie Grimm OCALA, FL - The action picked up noticeably during the second session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training and, with the auction's first seven-figure offering leading the way, figures concluded above 2023 levels Wednesday evening. "It was an excellent day," OBS Director of Sales Tod Wojciechowski said at the close of business Wednesday. "As I said yesterday, there are plenty of good horses left to be sold and obviously that was borne out today. Quality horses sell well...

The search for the next Vandeek (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) just became a whole lot tougher. That's not to say that separating potential Group 1 winners apart from the near-200 horses who breeze up the Rowley Mile is an easy task to start with.  However, the howling wind, vertical hailstorm and torrential rain added a whole new dimension to the breeze at this year's Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale.  They tell us year after year that the times don't matter. That they only serve as just another piece of the jigsaw...

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 Hanshin Racecourse: Saturday, March 30, 2024 1st-HSN, ¥10,480,000 ($69k), Maiden, 3yo, 1800m CRITICAL HIT (c, 3, American Pharoah--Mythical Mission, by Giant's Causeway) is out of a stakes-winning full-sister to MGSW/GISP and two-time Canadian champion Irish Mission who was purchased by...

Brad Cox won four stakes races over the weekend, including the GII Louisiana Derby and the GII Fair Grounds Oaks. But such a run of success has almost come to be expected from a trainer who never seems to have a bad week. Cox will arrive at Churchill Downs with an army of stakes-caliber horses, including threats for the GI Kentucky Derby and the GI Kentucky Oaks. The multiple Eclipse Award winning conditioner was our special guest on this week's TDN Writers' Room podcast presented by Keeneland. He was this...