Maven Returns a Winner For American Pharoah

Making his first start of 2020, American Pharoah’s Group III winner Maven (3c American Pharoah x Richie’s Party Girl, by Any Given Saturday) impressively won an Allowance at Keeneland on Wednesday.

Racing over 5½ furlongs on the turf, the Wesley Ward-trained Maven broke strongly and went straight to the lead to set the pace. Opening up over a length on the field, Maven was keen under Gerardo Corrales but willing to settle under his jockey around the turn.

There was no catching Maven as he clicked into another gear in the stretch to pull away from the field with 2¾ lengths on the second place horse and a further 1¾ lengths on the third place runner for owner Richard Ravin.

Bred by Ward, Maven has won three of his four starts including last year’s Group III Prix du Bois in his second career start to become American Pharoah’s first graded stakes winner.

Maven is the first foal out of the Ward and Ravin-owned multiple stakes winning Richie's Party Girl, a half-sister to Grade III winner Strategic Partner and the dam of Grade I-placed Light The City.

One of five graded stakes winners for his sire, Maven is also one of eight stakes winners and 19 stakes horses for last year’s Champion Freshman Sire.