Abul Haul Latest Japanese Winner for Pharoah

American Pharoah’s stellar success in Japan continued Saturday when Abul Haul (3c American Pharoah x Kitten’s Dumplings, by Kitten’s Joy) became his sire’s sixth winner from seven starters in the country.

Racing over nine furlongs on dirt, Abul Haul quickly opened a length lead on the field with his ears pricked. That lead shrunk as the field entered the far turn but Abul Haul didn’t seem concerned, racing away yet again as they hit the stretch.

After giving the colt a few reminders in the stretch, jockey Christophe Lemaire eased up on Abul Haul in the final sixteenth of a mile as the colt coasted home. That enabled his lead to be cut into with a deceiving neck margin separating him from the second-place horse at the line.

It was the first victory in two starts for the Yasutoshi Ikee-trainee, who was bred in the United States by Teruya Yoshida and races for Shadai Race Horse Co.

Abul Haul is out of U.S. Grade I winner Kitten’s Dumplings, who returned to American Pharoah the year he was born and also has a 2-year-old unnamed American Pharoah colt.

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is absolutely flying in Japan with all six of his winners coming on dirt and combining for seven victories. The Champion Freshman sire of 2019 in the United States, American Pharoah has sired 32 winners worldwide including five stakes winners and 14 stakes horses with runners on both the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks trails.