Pharoah’s Phoals

American Pharoah stands at Coolmore America, Ashford Stud in Versailles, KY.
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American Pharoah stands at Coolmore America, Ashford Stud in Versailles, KY.
American Pharoah stands at Coolmore America, Ashford Stud, in Versailles, KY.

The sweltering summer is swiftly sweeping by as we welcome July and all of the super racing and sales that this month has to offer.  As our Triple Crown winning, 2 time Eclipse Winning, Breeders’ Cup Classic and Grand Slam winning, American Pharoah  headed off yesterday I am looking forward to admiring what he has left behind for now, Pharoah’s phoals.

Keeping American Pharoah comfortable in his stall is very important at Ashford Stud.
Keeping American Pharoah comfortable in his stall is very important at Ashford Stud.

American Pharoah retired from racing after his record breaking 2015 racing season.  He stands at Coolmore America, Ashford Stud, in Versailles, KY during North America’s breeding season and then he ships to Coolmore Australia to breed during their season.  American Pharoah went into quarantine for shipping to Australia the last day of June.  His presence in KY will be missed but fortunately he leaves behind many from his 2 crops of foals.

American Pharoah gives some side eye to his fans from his stall at Ashford Stud.
American Pharoah gives some side eye to his fans from his stall at Ashford Stud.

American Pharoah’s foals are too young to race but they are fun to follow for their cuteness, the price that they bring at sales and the promise of future racing.  His 2017 North American crop has earned an average of $445,500 at auction for 10 of 13 weanlings offered.  In 2018 his North American offspring, 3 of 5 yearlings offered, have sold for an average of  $540,000.  American Pharoah has had two of his offspring sell for a million dollars each.  No other sire had a million dollar weanling in 2017.  In 2 North American crops, he has 173 foals, 14 weanlings and 159 yearlings.  He covered 208 mares in North America in 2016 and 214 in 2017.  His 2018 season just ended in June.  His 2016 reported stud fee was listed at $200,000 and was last listed as private.  People must be really holding on to those foals to race them themselves or watch as the value goes up.  It is July and we are about to see some more of his foals at auction!

This stud is a handsome looker. American Pharoah poses for his fans at Ashford Stud.
This stud is a handsome looker.  American Pharoah poses for his fans at Ashford Stud.

On Tuesday, July 10th, 2018 at 10 A.M ET, Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, KY will hold their July Selected Yearlings Sale.  I am in a lot of anticipation for this sale and I plan to follow up with pictures from the sale of these two American Pharoah fillies.  Hip 131 is a filly born to Yong Musician consigned by a selected sales agent for Machmer Hall.  Hip 205 was foaled by Distorted Point and will be sold by Bluewater Sales, LLC.

Look at that conformation! American Pharoah looks so healthy at Ashford Stud.
Look at that conformation!  American Pharoah looks so healthy at Ashford Stud.

I will continue to cover more on American Pharoah’s phoals as they progress and go thru auctions and his phamily as it was fun to watch his full brother, St. Patrick’s Day, finish 3rd in his 3rd start on Thursday.  I am hoping for some more summer racing from St. Patrick’s Day.  This lightly raced 3 year old finished 2nd at Del Mar last Fall before breaking his maiden in his next start, a month later, at the same track.  He made his 2018 debut at Curragh in the listed Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire Celebration Stakes last week.  I’d love to see him ship back to America to romp in our races this summer.

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Jumping for Joy over Justify

Justify races for home in the Belmont Stakes to the 13th Triple Crown victory!
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Justify comes into view as the clear leader of the Belmont Stakes!
Justify comes into view as the clear leader of the Belmont Stakes!

I waited most of my life to witness a Triple Crown victory.  Seattle Slew and Affirmed did it back to back when I was a toddler and the great Secretariat won shortly prior to my birth.  I was raised on the stories but I did not know what it was like to see it with my own eyes.  After following the career of champion California Chrome, I wasn’t sure if I would ever see a Triple Crown winner race.  Then, in 2015, my dream came true.  American Pharoah won after a 37 year drought.  It was emotional and something I knew would always stick with me.  I also thought it may never happen again in my lifetime.  Then, to my surprise a great horse won the Kentucky Derby and once again there was hope for another Triple Crown winner, the hope was in Justify and he did not disappoint.  Justify left me jumping for joy with his win in the Belmont Stakes, our lucky 13th Triple Crown winner!

 

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Basics of the Belmont

Free Drop Billy and Blended Citizen raced in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland!
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Free Drop Billy and Blended Citizen raced in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland!
Free Drop Billy and Blended Citizen raced in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland!

It seems like everyone has their own opinion on this year’s Belmont Stakes and I could not be happier to read and learn about all of the varied perspectives on this race.  There is a wealth of information available if you have the time or the interest.  For those craving a refresher or the simple facts ahead of this weekend’s race, here are the basics of the Belmont Stakes.

 

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Happy Marether’s Day!

Loving mares watch over their foals in a pasture at Taylor Made Farm.
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Loving mares watch over their foals in a pasture at Taylor Made Farm.
Loving mares watch over their foals in a pasture at Taylor Made Farm.

Happy Marether’s Day to everyone!  This weekend we celebrate a special holiday to honor all of the mothers who brought us into this world and cared for us so dearly.  I am especially thankful to have a great mom myself.  Tomorrow is Mother’s Day and it seemed a fitting time to focus on some of the outstanding broodmares.  Thoroughbreds have mothers too and they are important to the pedigree and to the emotional and physical soundness of the foals that grow up to be the best racing champions.

 

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Discussing the Derby

Good Magic and Flameaway head for the finsh line in the Blue Grass Stakes!.
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Free Drop Billy romps early in the Blue Grass Stakes.
Free Drop Billy romps early in the Blue Grass Stakes.

What a long strange trip it’s been, this Road to the Kentucky Derby.  Thinking back to last September, how many times have we changed our minds, or might there be a few who had an inkling from foaling season?  I’ve had an fascinating but indecisive path myself however, I have finally come to some determinations.  This is what I know about the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby and I would love to share it with you.

 

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Last Lap in Arkansas Derby, Lexington Stakes too!

Good Magic finishes first over Flameaway, Free Drop Billy and Sporting Chance. There was a bit of interference and disqualification leading to the third and fourth place finishes.
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Photo taken as the 14 contenders in the 2018 Blue Grass Stakes approach the first pass over the finish line. 5 are still in the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Go Good Magic, Flameaway, Free Drop Billy, Blended Citizen and Sporting Chance!
Photo taken as the 14 contenders in the 2018 Blue Grass Stakes approach the first pass over the finish line. 5 are still on the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. Go GoodMagic, Flameaway, Free Drop Billy, Blended Citizen and Sporting ChanceMachismo will race again,  just 1 week later in the 2018 Arkansas Derby!

Happy Friday the 13th!  I am tickled to think of all the peculiar betting habits and quirks I will see among the superstitious gamblers and horsemen at Keeneland today!  Everyday is a good day at the track but tomorrow we will see the very last lap on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.  Saturday, 4/14/18 features the final two prep races, the Lexington Stakes and the Arkansas Derby.

 

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Favorites at Fasig-Tipton

Sunday Gravy, hip 467, was busy with requests to be shown ahead of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale.
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Come Follow Me, hip 114, strikes a pose as she is on view ahead of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale.
Come Follow Me, hip 114, strikes a pose as she is on view ahead of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale.

Her halter’s nameplate reads, “Come Follow Me” and her beauty made it desirable to do so.  While many American’s were busy getting ready for the Super Bowl, I found the preparations at Fasig-Tipton to hold more of my personal interests.  Today, Fasig-Tipton in Lexington, KY will hold the 2018 edition of their two day Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale.  While visiting the barns yesterday morning, I took time to inspect a few of this sales favorites at Fasig-Tipton.

 

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Foaling In Love

A newborn foal at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale
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A newborn foal at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale
A newborn foal at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale

The new year is here and it’s about time for a foaling frenzy!  Due to the January 1st birthday, that all Northern Hemisphere Thoroughbreds must share, it is of upmost importance that no newborn be born prior to that day but we see a rapid upswing in foals thereafter.  A few foals have already made their arrival.  Literally, several hundred per sire are on the way, fathered by the most popular of studs.  Most horse farm tours are open to stallion visits but naturally the very pregnant mares and new foals are sheltered and protected.  My best chances, for now, of seeing the babies, is at the sales.  With the majority of the broodmares currently pregnant there are usually a few who give birth while they are in the sales barns.  I am hoping to see some of the newest foals to the Thoroughbreds, we love so much, tomorrow.  Read on to see which foals I am in most anticipation of as I am foaling in love.

 

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WinStar Wonderment

Pioneerof the Nile at WinStar
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WinStar super stud, Pioneerof the Nile
WinStar super stud, Pioneerof the Nile

On the Monday preceding the Thanksgiving holiday, I seized the day (a little Carpe Diem pun) and took a tour at WinStar Farm.  This modern but magnificent horse farm has been on my to do list since I began my website nearly three years ago.  Good things do come to those who wait because WinStar just keeps adding champions to their sire roster.  At over 20 stallions there was so much to see so I’ve selected some to share.

 

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November by the Numbers at the Keeneland Sale

Stellar Wind, sales topper at the 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale
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Stellar Wind strikes a $6 million dollar pose
Stellar Wind strikes a $6 million dollar pose

The 2017 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale concluded yesterday, 11/18/17.  It was a spectacular sale with high demand for the best quality weanlings, mares and horses of racing age.  With so much to say in the recap, I think it might be best to let the numbers speak for themselves.

 

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