American Pharoah’s Cafe Pharoah Wins Hyacinth Stakes

Cafe Pharoah (3c American Pharoah x Mary’s Follies, by More Than Ready) joined the Kentucky Derby trail on Sunday when winning the Listed Hyacinth Stakes at Tokyo to become American Pharoah’s second Japanese winner in two days.

Racing over a mile on the dirt, Cafe Pharoah was more than happy to race in the back of the field a few paths wide in the early stages.

Jockey Mirco Demuro’s decision to keep his mount wide and out of trouble paid off as they entered the stretch with Cafe Pharoah having clear running room in front of him to make his move. The colt’s big stride saw him challenging the leaders in the final furlong before racing by to win with his ears pricked by 1¼ lengths to earn 30 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Trained by Noriyuki Hori for Koichi Nishikawa, Cafe Pharoah is undefeated in his two career starts after breaking his maiden by 10 lengths in December. The U.S.-bred was purchased by Narvick International for $475,000 from Eddie Woods at the OBS March 2-Year-Old Sale last year after being bred by Paul Pompa Jr.

The colt is out of Grade II winner Mary’s Follies, who is also the dam of Grade II winner Regal Glory and Grade III winner Night Prowler from her four winners. She also has an unnamed Uncle Mo 2-year-old.

The More Than Ready cross has been successful for American Pharoah with both of his named foals out of More Than Ready daughters now stakes winners – including the stallion’s Grade II Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Four Wheel Drive.

Champion Freshman Sire American Pharoah has 31 winners overall with six stakes winners and 15 stakes horses led by the Grade II-winning duo of Four Wheel Drive and Sweet Melania.