Nefertari Tops Off Successful Saturday for Pharoah
In a Saturday that saw American Pharoah sire three North American winners, Japanese runner Nefertari (3f American Pharoah x What A Spot, by Arch) added a fourth win late on Saturday night with a dazzling display at Hanshin.
Racing over 1 1/8 miles on dirt, it was an all-the-way front end victory after Nefertari took control soon out of the gate.
Jockey Christophe Lemaire let the filly gallop at her own pace until they hit the stretch where he ask for a little more. Giving her mostly a hand ride with just one tap, Lemaire never had to ask for her best as Nefertari romped by seven lengths for owner K. Hidaka Breeders Union.
Trained by Daisuke Takayanagi, Nefertari was bred by Hattori Bokujo and is out of a winning half-sister to multiple Grade I winner Coil, Grade I winner Chiropractor and two other stakes horses. That mare is also out of a half-sister to U.S. champion Possibly Perfect and from the same family as Grade I winner Eddington and Grade II-winning, Grade I Preakness third Tenfold.
She was the third 3-year-old winner in 24 hours for her sire with Ram winning a Churchill Downs Allowance and Americaredwhiteblu breaking his maiden at Oaklawn Park in his second start by 2 ¾ lengths.
Meanwhile, his third crop got off to a flying start when 2-year-old Trust Our Journey was an easy 1 ¼ length winner of a juvenile Maiden Special Weight at Gulfstream Park.
A truly international, sire, Nefertari is the 13th winner from 15 runners in Japan for American Pharoah with that group led by Grade I winner Café Pharoah and stakes winner Danon Pharaoh.