New G1 Winner for American Pharoah

Tara Madgwick - Monday March 7

Coolmore’s Triple Crown hero American Pharoah (USA) was making headlines in North America on the weekend with a Group double courtesy of exciting 3YO colt Forbidden Kingdom and quality mare As Time Goes By, who became his fourth Group I winner when capturing the Group I Beholder Mile at Sant Anita.


Trained by Richard Mandella, Kentucky Derby hopeful Forbidden Kingdom was fast away and surged straight to the lead where he was never seriously challenged, rcing away to win the Group II Santa Anita San Felipe Stakes (1 and 1/16th m) by nearly six lengths.


Advertisement
“I was anxious to see this race and see if he would get two turns. He looked even better,” Mandella said.

“I was a little nervous when I saw the :45 on the board for the first half. He just did what he likes to do. The next step is the [GI Runhappy] Santa Anita Derby next month.”

Winning rider Juan Hernandez was thrilled with the victory.

“It worked out pretty well. Mr. Mandella had the horse ready. He’s really fast. A couple of jumps after we broke, he was in front already,” Hernandez said.

“I let him run because if you fight with him he tries to go faster... I let him have fun. I turned him loose and he never stopped, he kept going the whole race. He proved how good he is today.”

With three wins and two placings from five starts and $434,000 in prizemoney, Forbidden Kingdom was a $300,000 Fasig Tipton Kentucky Select Sale purchase and runs for My Racehorse and Spendthrift Farm.

Now firmly on the Kentucky Derby trail, Forbidden Kingdom is the best of three winners from Group III winner Just Louise.

Later in the day, the Bob Baffert trained As Time Goes By claimed her first Group I victory, something she has promised to do for some time.


A multiple Group winner that finished second in the Group I Beholder Mile last year, As Time Goes By broke through at the elite level with a comfortable two and a quarter length win taking her overall record to seven wins from 14 starts with prizemoney in excess of $950,000.

“She gets better with age,” said Bob Baffert who trained her sire American Pharoah.

“She is such an exciting and classy mare. She never breaks a sweat. I think the longer the better with her.

“These Pharoah horses are fast. It’ s been a great day for Pharoah horses. American Pharoah has meant so much to racing.”

A homebred for the Coolmore partners, As Time Goes By is a half-sister to Champion US 3YO Colt Will Take Charge and Group I winner Take Charge Indy being the last recorded foal from 2013 US Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady, a triple Group I winner that is also the grand-dam of multiple Group I winners Take Charge Brandi and Omaha Beach.

American Pharoah has entries for Karaka Book 1 and Inglis Easter.

American Pharoah has nine yearlings for Karaka Book 1 and 10 for Inglis Easter.



 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sword of State Comes Full Circle
When Te Akau boss David Ellis attended Magic Millions in 2020 he returned to New Zealand with seven yearlings that included a $360,000 filly by I Am Invincible and a $600,000 colt by Snitzel, the former was NZ Horse of the Year Imperatriz and the latter was Champion NZ 2YO Sword of State, whose first yearlings will be offered at the Gold Coast in January.
Pause for Thought
You see a yearling and you love the yearling, but then you see the x-ray and you are given pause for thought - what happens next?
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Three heats for juveniles at Warwick Farm on Thursday morning and the winners included an unraced Capitalist colt from interstate that is Magic Millions eligible.
Eulogy Stakes Kickstarts Busy Period for NZB Filly of the Year Series
The festive season is set to deliver plenty of NZB Filly of the Year Series action, with three prestigious Group races within the space of 11 days.
Te Akau Hoping for Hometown Cup Win
Te Akau Racing, the country’s leading stable, has captured some of the biggest prizes in New Zealand racing this year, and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are keen to add their home cup, the Listed Team Wealleans Matamata Cup (1600m), to their trophy cabinet on Friday.
Elite Stallions in the Spotlight at Karaka 2025
Visitors to the Karaka sale grounds every January are met by the yearling progeny of a diverse and high-quality range of sires, and Karaka 2025 will be no different.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday December 18
Here is the full list of 64 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Seymour
There was a $100,000 Inglis Xtra maiden bonus up for grabs at Seymour on Thursday and the winner was a lightly raced three year-old that has a pedigree that would put him in the mix in any corner of the world.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday December 17
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Debut Win for $1.3million I Am Invincible Colt
A $1.3million Inglis Easter purchase for Yulong, I Am Invincible colt Lough Eske was easy in the market, but made a winning debut at Newcastle on Thursday.