Cafe Pharoah Stays Undefeated in Japan’s G3 Unicorn

Continuing a successful week around the world for American Pharoah, Cafe Pharoah (3c American Pharoah x Mary’s Follies, by More Than Ready) won the Group III Unicorn Stakes in Japan to continue his lead on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Joining Sweet Melania as horses to win Grade III events for American Pharoah in the last 24 hours, Cafe Pharoah won stylishly by five lengths as the race favorite over a mile on the dirt.

Breaking from the outside gate, the 3-year-old broke on top of the field before being taken back by Damian Lane to sit a few paths wide just off the leader. As they entered the stretch, Lane looked like he had supreme confidence in his mount while sitting chilly as the other jockeys started asking their mounts for more.

As soon as Lane dropped his hands, the race was over with Cafe Pharoah shooting to the lead. Lane gave the colt a few reminders in the final furlong to keep him on task but Cafe Pharoah proved to be easily the best at the line in stakes record time to stay undefeated in three starts.

The winner of the Listed Hyacinth Stakes to kick off 2020, Cafe Pharoah leads all Japanese contenders for the Grade I Kentucky Derby with 70 points toward the September Run for the Roses.

Trained by Noriyuki Hori for Koichi Nishikawa, Cafe Pharoah was a $475,000 purchase at the OBS March 2-Year-Old Sale last year by Narvick International from Eddie Woods.

Bred by Paul Pompa, the colt out of Grade II winner Mary’s Follies is a half-brother to Grade II winner Regal Glory and Grade III winner Night Prowler. Cafe Pharoah also has an unnamed 2-year-old Uncle Mo half-brother.

Cafe Pharoah is the fourth stakes horse around the world in the last four days for American Pharoah. Royal Ascot Group III-placed Monarch Of Egypt kicked off his run on Thursday followed by Turned Aside placing in a Belmont Park stakes on Friday, and Sweet Melania winning her 2020 debut in the Grade III Wonder Again yesterday!