Liraz Completes International Double for American Pharoah
Liraz (3f American Pharoah x Jemina’s Pearl by Distorted Humor) gave American Pharaoh an international double on Wednesday with a Maiden Special Weight victory at Indiana Grand after Oh So True broke her maiden in Ireland.
Trained by Brad Cox, Liraz was stretching to 1 1/16 miles and making a switch to dirt in her third career start. Going off as the favorite, Liraz raced along the rail early on but was switched to the outside by Fernando De La Cruz down the backstretch as she moved up to closely attend the leader.
Going into the turn, Liraz made her move and quickly took over. Leading as they entered the stretch, she was eased down by De La Cruz in the final furlong as she pulled away to win by 6¼ lengths for Rosedown Racing Stables.
Bred by Hunter Valley Farm, the filly is out of Grade II-placed Jemima’s Pearl, one of three stakes horses for Grade II winner Jemima. A half-sister to Listed winner English Colony, Jemima’s Pearl is also a half-sister to the dam of stakes winning Hot Tempo.
Liraz is the 55th winner for last year’s Champion Freshman Sire with American Pharoah’s nine stakes winners and 20 stakes horses leading all North American and European second crop sires.