American Pharoah, Justify have first classic runners

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify, who share a barn at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky, will have their respective first runners in American classics this week at Churchill Downs.

American Pharoah will lead the duo off on Friday with Grade 2 Gazelle Stakes winner Promiseher America in the Kentucky Oaks. Justify’s son Verifying runs in the Kentucky Derby, having earned his way as the runner-up in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes.

American Pharoah, by Pioneerof the Nile, entered stud in 2016. With Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Four Wheel Drive in his first crop, he led the 2019 freshman sire list by earnings. He has continued on to find success with both dirt and turf runners around the globe. His dirt runners include Japanese champion Cafe Pharoah, a two-time winner of the Grade 1 February Stakes; American Grade 1 winners American Theorem and As Time Goes By; and Japan Dirt Derby winner Danin Pharaoh.

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His turf and synthetic standouts include European champion Van Gogh, Canadian champion Skygaze, U.S. Grade 1 winner Harvey’s Lil Goil, and French Group 1 winner Above the Curve

Overall, American Pharoah is the sire of 35 stakes winners, and many of his progeny have inherited his stamina. The average winning distance of his offspring is 7 1/2 furlongs, a solid figure considering the propensity of sprint races in America. Promiseher America has followed suit, winning at 1 1/8 miles in the Gazelle. Trained by Ray Handal, she is out of the winning Unbridled’s Song mare Promisedyouheaven.

“I thought that from before she ran she would relish the longer distances,” Handal said after the Gazelle. “She’s just built like a two-turn kind of horse.”

Justify, who was third on the 2022 freshman sire earnings list, has also found international appeal. The son of Scat Daddy is the sire of U.S. graded stakes winners Champions Dream and Just Cindy and Irish group stakes winners Aspen Grove and Statuette from his first Northern Hemisphere crop. His first Southern Hemisphere crop includes Australian group winner Learning To Fly.

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Verifying is out of the Grade 3-winning Repent mare Diva Delite, also the dam of champion Midnight Bisou. He races for Coolmore and partners.

“He’s a very good-looking horse, he’s powerful, he’s a fantastic mover,” Ashford’s Robyn Murray said. “His willingness to train, he is so hardy, and the way that he battled the last eighth in the Blue Grass are similar qualities to what Justify showed with his tenacity and willingness to win.”

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