Danon Pharaoh Beats Elders in Urawa Kinen

Danon Pharaoh (3c American Pharoah x Crisp, by El Corredor) added another victory to his resume on Wednesday with a win in the Listed Urawa Kinen against his elders at Urawa in Japan.

Racing over 1¼ miles on the dirt, Danon Pharaoh raced a few lengths behind the leaders for most of the race before making his move around the far turn. By the time they hit the stretch, he had the lead but was tested throughout the closing stages to win by a nose.

It was the fourth victory of Danon Pharaoh’s career and second stakes win after his Japan Dirt Derby victory over the summer.

Sold for $1.6 million at the JRA Select Yearling and Foal Sale in 2018 from breeder Northern Farm, Danon Pharoah races for Danon Co.

The colt is out of Grade I winner Crisp, who was sold carrying the colt in 2016 at the Keeneland November Breeding Sale. He is one of three runners for the mare, who is a half-sister to stakes winner Deer Valley. The pair come from the family of Grade I winners Whywhywhy, Stay Thirsty, Tamarkuz, and Without Parole among a page full of blacktype.

The leading sire of his generation, American Pharoah was Champion Freshman Sire last year and leads nearly every category on the second crop sire list with two Grade I winners, six graded stakes winners, three Grade I horses, and 11 graded stakes horses in 2020 alone.