14th SW and Strong Magic Millions for American Pharoah

Triple Crown hero American Pharoah added a new stakes-winner to his tally in the US on Sunday, while in Australia his second crop of yearlings found favour at Magic Millions with 17 averaging $219,706.

Progressive four year-old mare Thankful (4m American Pharoah x Beholden, by Cat Thief) became the 14th stakes-winner for her sire when scoring a stylish three-quarter length win in the $100,000 Ladies Handicap (1 and 1/8th mile) at Aqueduct.

Prepared by Todd Pletcher, Thankful was content to race a few paths off the rail as she tracked the leader and forged clear at the finish to win well.

“We always thought she wanted to go two turns. I was happy to get it done for [owner] Ramona Bass,” said Pletcher assistant Byron Hughes.

“She’s starting to run up to her talent level in the morning, which is exciting. She was late developing, but once she started putting it all together, she really started putting it on.”

Purchased by Steve Young from Taylor Made Sales Agency at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Select Yearling Sale for $625,000, Thankful has the overall record of three wins ad two placings from six starts.

She is a half-sister to Group III winner Brazen Persuasion and Behold de Buy being from terrific producer Beholden, the dam of six winners from seven to race.

American Pharoah yearlings at Magic Millions sold for up to $625,000 with his best result the colt from Group III winner Ennis Hill that was offered by Coolmore and bought by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock.

Other good sales for American Pharoah were the colt from Godiva Rock bought by Tasman Bloodstock for $425,000, the filly from Koonoomoo that made $350,000 to the bid of Raphie Bloodstock/Annabel Neasham Racing, a colt from Ashley’s Kitty (USA) bought by Tom Magnier for $320,000 and a filly from More Than Real (USA) that made $260,000 to the bid of leading Japanese breeder Katsumi Yoshida.