March 19, 2024

American Pharoah juveniles: Maven for Royal Ascot; Lady Eli’s half named Princesa Caroline

Maven, American Pharoah's first North American winner, struck in France to become his first Group stakes hero (c) NYRA/Coglianese Photography

This American Pharoah juvenile round-up features three categories of updates – racing, works, and more names.

Maven had been ticketed for Royal Ascot since his Aqueduct debut score, so it was a plot twist to see him entered in Friday’s Tremont. But breeder/trainer Wesley Ward was apparently just keeping options open, for the juvenile did in fact ship out with his Royal raiding party, and scratch from the Tremont.

Maven’s focus on the June 20 Norfolk (G2) was reiterated in a Tuesday Thoroughbred Daily News story, and Frances J. Karon confirmed via Twitter Thursday that Maven “is already in the UK.”

Another Ward juvenile, debut third Tesorina, switched to turf for a Churchill Downs maiden May 23, but unfortunately gave way and eased across the wire in last. The Todd Pletcher-trained Sweet Melania, third in her debut, finished third again June 1 at Monmouth Park.

Two more American Pharoahs were unveiled in Europe. Coolmore’s South Saqqara, the half-brother to Acapulco, was a green seventh at Cork May 22. Look for the Aidan O’Brien pupil to learn plenty from this introduction. Godolphin’s Saqqara King became Pharoah’s first starter in Great Britain. A gray like dam Joyful Victory, the Charlie Appleby trainee found his best stride late when fourth at Doncaster June 1. Because he was named since our last Pharoah report, his details are in the list below.

Previously named juveniles with recent works

Core Conviction sped three furlongs in a bullet :35.94, over Saratoga’s Oklahoma training track, June 3 for Chad Brown. Also at Saratoga are Noudha and Thankful (both with Pletcher), while Another Miracle (Tony Dutrow) and Menelik (Jonathan Thomas) have breezed at Belmont. At Fair Hill are Bernadette the Jet, who fired a half-mile bullet in :48 May 31, and King of Egypt.

Pharoah Cat and Emily’s Oasis have been working at Churchill Downs. Harvey’s Lil Goil turned in her first work at Blackwood Stables May 15. Envied (Ben Colebrook) has a series of breezes at Keeneland, where Cardiac Kid, Mo American, and Amani’s Eagle are working. The latter, renamed from Firey Torpedo, started out at Stonestreet Training Center.

Basquiat breezed twice at Stonestreet in May, while Egyptian Princess has reeled off a series of works there. Hesitation Blues is a regular presence on the South Florida worktab, between Gulfstream Park West and the Palm Meadows turf, and Lashara is gearing up at Casse Training Center.

In California, American Theorem (George Papaprodromou), Cool Runnings (Keith Desormeaux) and Royal Act (Peter Eurton) are on the Santa Anita worktab. Himiko, Merneith, and Saudi Pharoah are all at Los Alamitos.

Details on these, and many others, can be found in the earlier Pharoah juvenile stories.

American Pharoah’s first crop turns two: the names so far

American Pharoah’s first crop: Wish Way works bullet; next batch of named two-year-olds

American Pharoah colt Horus Bird entered at Dundalk Friday – plus round-up of his latest named juveniles

American Pharoah juveniles: Finally the One among slew of recently named

Now on to more names

ALL AMERICAN DREAM: Bay filly (foaled April 19) is a half-sister to multiple stakes-winning and Group 2-placed sprinter Wind Fire, whose first foal, two-year-old Air Force Jet, has already broken his maiden in Ireland. Dam A. P. Dream, a full sister to Grade 1-winning sire Majestic Warrior, is by A.P. Indy out of multiple Grade 1 heroine and millionaire Dream Supreme. Third dam Spinning Round is herself a Grade 1 victress. The Kinsman Farm-bred was an RNA (her reserve price not attained, and thus unsold) for $775,000 as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October.

BLACK SHEEP: Dark bay colt (February 5) is the first registered foal from the Mineshaft mare Nellie Cashman, who scored her signature win in the 2013 Virginia Oaks (G3) and twice placed in Grade 2 events at Saratoga. Bred by Calumet Farm.

CONFIDENTIAL ACT: Chestnut colt (February 22) commanded the second-highest price of $2.2 million at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Godolphin purchased the second registered foal from multiple Grade 2-placed stakes victress Kindle, by Indian Charlie. Dam is herself a half to Australian Group 3 scorer Tonopah as well as Grade 1-placed Latigo Shore. Exported to Great Britain as a yearling, and according to France-Galop, in the care of Appleby.

DUBLIN PHARAOH: Chestnut colt (March 17) is a half-brother to Group 3 winner and multiple Group 2-placed Shumoos, runner-up in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint. Dam Wile Cat, by Storm Cat, is a full sister to Grade 2 scorer Cat Fighter and a half to Group 3-winning sire Ishiguru. Second dam is multiple Grade 1-winning juvenile Strategic Maneuver. Veteran of the sales ring RNA’d for $190,000 as a Keeneland November weanling, sold for $375,000 as a September yearling, and most recently RNA’d again for 375,000 guineas ($515,064) at the Tattersalls Craven breeze-up (video here) in April.

EMINENT DOMAIN: Bay colt (March 31) is out of Dundalk Dust, winner of the 2010 Falls City H. (G2). The mare is by the Danzig stallion Military and from the family of two other notable stakes scorers by the same sire, Beau Dare and Turfiste. Purchased for $500,000 at OBS April (under tack video) by Maverick Racing and China Horse Club.

HOLY ROMAN EMPRESS: Irish-bred bay filly (March 2), with O’Brien at Ballydoyle, sports an early entry in the June 28 Airlie Stud S. (G2) at the Curragh. The Coolmore homebred is out of top two-year-old Damson, the Irish highweight filly by virtue of her victory in the 2004 Phoenix (G1) and the divisional co-highweight in England thanks to her Queen Mary (G2) score. The Entrepreneur mare has not been as successful as a broodmare, but she is the dam of Requinto, a precocious juvenile with wins in the 2011 Flying Childers (G2) and Molecomb (G3), and Group 3-placed Independence Day.

KITTANSETT: Bay colt (May 13), $1.4 million Keeneland September yearling, is a half-brother to three stakes performers – Grade 2-placed Vigilante, Grade 3-placed Play It Loud, and stakes-placed Mihrab – produced by multiple Grade 2 heroine Bsharpsonata. The Pulpit mare, who also placed in the 2011 Ashland (G1) and La Brea (G1), is herself a half to Grade 2-winning sire Backtalk. Bought by Larry Best’s OXO Equine and already on the worktab for Chad Brown at Saratoga.

MAINE: Chestnut colt (May 24) is out of the winning A.P. Indy mare Parris Hill. Dam is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 queen, $2.4 million-earner, and Broodmare of the Year Take Charge Lady, responsible for champion Will Take Charge and Grade 1 winner Take Charge Indy, both sires. Further descendants include champion Take Charge Brandi and current Arkansas Derby (G1) hero Omaha Beach, who was scratched as the early Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite. $115,000 Keeneland September yearling turned a pinhook profit when bringing $475,000 at OBS April (under tack video) from trainer Linda Rice, on behalf of D J Stable.

NEWS BREAK: Bay colt (April 7) is out of the Malibu Moon mare Star Sighting. Dam is a full sister to multiple Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Farrell, and a half to multiple Grade 1 star and promising freshman sire Carpe Diem. RNA’d for $140,000 at Keeneland September.

PASSIONANDPURSUIT: Dark bay colt (March 28) is the first registered foal from Before You Know It, a Grade 3-placed Hard Spun mare from the family of Group/Grade 3 winners Slow Pace and Funny Duck. Further back in the female line are Grade 1 scorers Thirty Six Red and Corrazona (dam of multiple Grade 3-winning sire Olmodavor). Bred by Calumet Farm.

PRINCE OF PHAROAHS: Bay colt (April 12) out of the winning Dixie Union mare my Dixie Doodle. Dam is a three-quarter sister to stakes victor Southern Success and a half to Grade 1-placed Taste Like Candy, from the family of multiple Grade 1 star and $2.2 million-earner Affirmed Success. New York-bred is posting works at Saratoga for trainer Rice.

PRINCESA CAROLINE: Dark bay filly (March 24), a half-sister to champion and beloved laminitis beater Lady Eli, is with her trainer Brown at Saratoga. Dam Sacre Coeur, by Saint Ballado, has also produced multiple Grade 3 winner Bizzy Caroline. Second dam, Runnymede matriarch Kazadancoa, is the ancestress of such notables as Tejano Run, Spring in the Air, and Spiced Perfection. The Runnymede-bred is owned in partnership with Three Chimneys Farm, as revealed on Facebook:

Facebook post by Runnymede Farm

SAQQARA KING: Gray colt (March 11) out of Grade 1-winning millionaire Joyful Victory was a promising fourth for Godolphin trainer Appleby on debut. Dam won or placed in a total of 14 stakes, with major scores in the 2013 Santa Margarita (G1) and 2011 Fantasy (G2). The Tapit mare has produced one other runner, current sophomore Jennifer’s Dream, who was just third in the Penn Oaks. Sold for $200,000 at Keeneland September.

SEAGAL: Gray filly (February 5) is the first registered foal from Sunset Glow, the 2014 Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Sorrento (G2) winner. The Exchange Rate mare was also second in the Albany (G3) at Royal Ascot and in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) to Lady Eli. Purchased by Ben McElroy, agent, for $162,000 at OBS April (under tack video) and already showing four works at Keeneland.

SHELL SHOCK: Chestnut filly (May 15) out of stakes winner She Be Classy, by Toccet. Dam is a half to Grade 2 victress Storm Mesa. $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling, who RNA’d for $145,000 at OBS April (under tack video), recorded her first breeze at Palm Meadows May 26.

SKYGAZE: Bay filly (April 25) is a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Sky Cape and Grade 2-placed stakes scorer Sunny Skies. Dam Skyscape, by Marquetry, is also ancestress of current UAE 2000 Guineas (G3) runner-up Walking Thunder. $300,000 Keeneland September buy by Tracy Farmer is on the Woodbine worktab.

SUMMER SPLASH: Bay colt (May 11) is out of the Tapit mare Our Love Tap, who is a full sister to Grade 3-placed Gray Sky and a half to Grade 1 vixen Dearest Trickski. $200,000 Keeneland September yearling was gaveled down to Tom Durant for $530,000 at Fasig-Tipton’s Midlantic May Sale.

TORONTOTORO: Chestnut colt (April 15) is a half-brother to Grade 3 winner Unspurned, also successful in the 2014 Bison City S. Dam Banga Ridge, by Snow Ridge, is herself a stakes-winning half to Grade 1-placed multiple stakes victor Sayaad as well as Coronet of a Baron. Ontario-bred just recorded his first published work at Woodbine June 5.

TURNED ASIDE: Bay colt (April 26) is out of the Grade 3-placed Sustained, by War Front, from the extended family of Grade 2 scorer Good and Tough. RNA’d for $270,000 at OBS April (under tack video).