American Pharoah’s Ocean Atlantique Wins Dust Commander

Group III-placed Ocean Atlantique (6g American Pharoah x Tare Green, by Giant’s Causeway) added a stakes victory to his record on Saturday night with a win in the Dust Commander Stakes at Turfway.

The Mike Maker trainee wasn’t the first out of the gate in the 1 1/16 mile race but he quickly took control and set the pace throughout the run. No one was able to get their head in front of him from that point on with the gelding starting to pull away around the turn.

Walter Rodriguez kept him focused down the stretch and in the end, Ocean Atlantique won his second straight race for Three Diamonds Farm.

It was the tenth top three finish in 21 starts for the 6-year-old, who was purchased for over $1.2 million as a 2-year-old in France. Bred by Indian Creek, Ocean Atlantique is a half-brother to stakes placed Gold Heritage. Their dam Tare Green is a half-sister to U.S. Champion Turf Male Leroidesanimaux and Grade I winner Uapybo in addition to Grade III winner Disport.

His third dam is also the dam of stakes winner and bluehen mare Hasili.

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is the sire of 28 stakes winners and 15 graded stakes winners with his 15 graded stakes winners, six Grade I winners and 13 Grade I performers the best of any stallion in his generation.