Pista Delivers Another Runaway Victory for Pharoah

Emulating her Triple Crown winning sire, Pista (3f American Pharoah x Mohini, by Galileo) relished running on a rain-soaked track Sunday with an impressive 6½ length maiden victory at Galway in Ireland.

Racing over 10 furlongs on the soft turf track, Pista broke smoothly and raced prominently on the rail a few lengths behind the leader. Happy to settle under Shane Crosse, Pista was content to gallop behind a developing duel as they entered the final three furlongs.

A hole opened up in front of the filly as they turned into the stretch and she was quick to take advantage. It took only a few strides to take over the lead with Pista confidently galloping home to win by 6½ lengths over fellow Joseph O’Brien trainee Lady Dahlia and lead home a Coolmore-sired top four.

“She looks like an out & out stayer. She’s a big filly with a great temperament & can only improve,” Joseph O’Brien’s representative Brendan Powell told Irishracing.com after the victory.

Bred by Lynch Bages Ltd, the filly was purchased by racing owner Heider Family Stables for $675,000 from Gainesway at the 2018 Keeneland September Sale.

The filly is the first foal out of Galileo mare Mohini, who is a daughter of French Champion 2-Year-Old Denebola, who is also the granddam of Grade I winner Senga. Class runs deep through the family with Pista’s third dam another French Champion 2-Year-Old in top broodmare Coup de Genie, whose descendants include Grade I winners Emollient and Maxios among others.

Mohini returned to American Pharoah the year of Pista’s birth to produce another filly in 2018.

Pista is the latest impressive maiden winner for American Pharoah, who has sired 10 winners in the last 10 days, including a double yesterday. She is the 50th individual winner for her Champion Freshman sire with his winners coming in seven different countries.