American Pharoah

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 Niigata Racecourses: Saturday, May 23, 2026 6th-KYO, ¥15,620,000 ($98k), Allowance, 3yo, 1400m MON SOUHAIT (c, 3, McKinzie--Fashion World {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) was unplaced in two juvenile appearances and again on 3-year-old debut in January, but put it...

When American Pharoah crossed the finish line in the 2015 Kentucky Derby, I immediately turned to my husband and said, "Let's go to the Belmont." In my mind, the best horse so rarely gets the good trip in the Derby, I had a hunch he might end the Triple Crown drought. That evening, I purchased four general admission tickets to the Belmont. Five weeks later, our kids (aged 12 and 10 at the time) stood on our soccer chairs inside the grandstand at Belmont Park and saw history with their...

The early pace may've been modest, but that closing kick commanded the headlines. All eyes were on her French stablemate, but Kathynmarissa (American Pharoah) made it known that the lady of the lawn on Kentucky Oaks day was her as she rolled by them all to win the GIII Modesty Stakes. After a fruitful 3-year-old season in 2024 where she was off the board only once in eight starts, and where she collected elite black-type when second in the GI American Oaks to eventual Eclipse champion She Feel Pretty (Karakontie...

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 Tokyo Racecourse: Saturday, May 2, 2026 9th-TOK, ¥35,570,000 ($227k), Allowance, 4yo/up, 2100m REALIZE CAMION (JPN) (c, 4, American Pharoah--Spiced Perfection, by Smiling Tiger) has amassed a record of 3-1-0 from five starts to date and makes his first start since...

Renegade (Into Mischief), a spectacular, come-from-behind winner for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher in the GI Arkansas Derby, was tabbed as the 4-1 morning-line favorite despite drawing the rail in a field of 20 set for next Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Irad Ortiz, Jr. rides. Renegade, a $975,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, is campaigned in partnership by Repole Stable and breeders Robert and Lawana Low. Pletcher has won the Kentucky Derby twice with Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (2017). The last horse to win the...

When last seen in Grade I company at Keeneland, Hat Creek Racing's Percy's Bar (Upstart) crossed the wire an apparent open-lengths winner of the GI Darley Alcibiades S. last October, only to be demoted from the victory for causing interference and placed second. The $52,000 Keeneland September bargain was back in Lexington in Friday's opening-day feature, the GI Central Bank Ashland S., and with a rail-skimming run into the short stretch, Percy's Bar went on to an authoritative 2 1/4-length defeat of heavily favored Zany (American Pharoah). French Friction (City...

Repole Stable's Zany (American Pharoah), the 4-1 favorite in the lone Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, headlines a field of seven set for the GI Central Bank Ashland S. on Keeneland's opening day program Friday. The unbeaten GII Demoiselle S. heroine kicked off her sophomore campaign for Todd Pletcher with a 2 3/4-length victory over subsequent GII Fasig-Tipton Fair Grounds Oaks winner Life of Joy (Gun Runner) after racing greenly down the stretch in the Suncoast S. at Tampa Feb. 7. "Zany is a special, special filly," Repole said following the...

INSTABILITY (IRE) (c, 3, Lope de Vega {Ire}--Miss Katie Mae {Ire} {SW-Can, GSP-Ire, MSP-USA, $166,139}, by Dark Angel {Ire}) was made the 6-5 favorite for this unveiling and did not disappoint his supporters with a strong performance over the Tampa lawn. A 440,000gns ($591,663) purchase at the Tattersalls October yearling sale in 2024, the son of leading sire Lope de Vega (Ire) set up comfortably in mid-pack as the frontrunners posted opening splits of :23.14 and a half-mile in :47.67. He steadily improved his position from there behind six panels...

Aqueduct saw a fleet of prep races for major spring targets Friday, and the connections of those winners have largely reported good prognoses for their stars as they chart out future targets. Upset winner of the Withers Stakes Talk to Me Jimmy (Modernist) has reportedly come out of his 11-length tour-de-force in good form despite grabbing his front right quarter at some point during the contest. Trainer Rudy Rodriguez reports the colt was in good spirits Saturday morning but that a vet would look at it as a precaution. "Thank...

Two Bits (American Pharoah) and Interstatelovesong (Bolt d'Oro) treated the Aqueduct faithful to an entertaining final-furlong tussle, with the former coming out just on top and the top two pulling a country mile clear of the others in Friday's Ruthless Stakes. Outsprinted and at the back of a compact field as Interstatelovesong showed the way, Two Bits was angled down towards the inside and made steady progress to be just behind the dueling front-runners nearing the entrance to the turn. Traveling comfortably in hand for the run into the final...

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, December 27, 2025 6th-HSN, ¥14,250,000 ($91k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m AMERICAN CALL (JPN) (c, 2, American Pharoah--Evening Call, by Tapit) is the second foal to the races for his dam, a $385,000 purchase by Katsumi Yoshida at 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 weekend running at Chukyo and Hanshin and Nakayama Racecourses: Saturday, December 20, 2025 4th-NKY, ¥14,250,000 ($92k), Newcomers, 2yo, 1800m EXMOUTH (f, 2, Practical Joke--Lighthouse Bay, by Speightstown) looks to become the fifth winner from as many starters from her dam, winner of four...