Another Exciting Debut Winner for American Pharoah

Triple Crown hero American Pharoah added a fourth winner to his tally in North America on Friday when Envied (2f American Pharoah x Halljoy, by Halling) made a winning debut at Ellis Park.

A homebred for Hank Nothhaft prepared by Ben Colebrook, Envied stalked the pace and finished strongly to win the one mile turf maiden by a neck with Corey Lanerie in the saddle.

“It was really great,” Lanerie said. “She warmed up like she's a little green. But when the gates opened, she broke really sharp and was pretty professional. Ran like an old horse. She was stuck down inside for a long part of the race. For a baby to do that and stay in there and split horses like she did is really good.”

Connections were well pleased with her effort and the immediate goal is the $500,000 Kentucky Downs Juvenile Fillies at a mile on Kentucky Downs' opening card on August 31.

Envied has a turf pedigree on her dam’s side being the first winner for Halljoy, a Group III place-getter in the UK at Goodwood and a full sister to Irish Group III winner An Tadh.

American Pharoah’s four winners to date have all been on turf headed by his Group III winner Maven and stakes-placed Monarch of Egypt.