Hudson Ridge Gives Pharoah Second Stakes Winner of Weekend

It was two stakes winners in two days for American Pharoah when Hudson Ridge (3c American Pharoah x Shell House, by Galileo) broke his maiden in impressive style winning the Cinema Stakes at Santa Anita.

Racing over 1 1/8 miles on the turf, Bob Baffert-trained Hudson Ridge was forced to veer out soon after the break when a horse bumped into him at the start. He quickly was back in stride, however, and raced keenly close behind the leader under Abel Cedillo. Cedillo kept a hold on him until they entered the turn when he was let loose.

Hudson Ridge had the lead going into the stretch and held an advantage over Zoffany’s stakes winning Sword Zorro all the way to the line. Pulling away in the closing stages, Hudson Ridge scored a 1 ¼ length victory in the race for Double L Racing and Jill Baffert.

Bred by Orpendale, Chelston, and Wynatt Hudson Ridge is the fourth stakes horse from six runners for American Pharoah out of Galileo mares, led by Group II winner and Group I-placed Pista. The colt is out of the Group III-placed Shell House, who is a half-sister to Grade II winner and Grade I-placed Diabolical and Group III winner and Group I-placed What a Name. One of Shell House’s half-sisters is also the granddam of Lookin At Lucky’s Grade III winner Lookin To Strike.

The talent goes on through the generations with Hudson Ridge’s third dam the Grade I winning Plenty of Grace, who is a three-quarter sister to top broodmare Soaring Softly.

Shell House had a full brother to Hudson Ridge last year and produced a colt by American Pharoah’s fellow Triple Crown winner Justify in March.

Now the sire of 16 stakes winners and 32 stakes performers, American Pharoah leads all North American and European third crop sires by number of Grade I winners, Grade I performers, graded stakes winners, graded stakes horses, stakes winners overall, and stakes horses overall.