A Shin Amen Ra Continues Japanese Success for Pharoah
American Pharoah took his record to four winners from six starters in Japan on Friday night when A Shin Amen Ra (2c American Pharoah x I O Ireland, by Giant’s Causeway) won brilliantly on debut at Hanshin.
Running over 1 1/8 miles on dirt for trainer Kenji Nonaka, A Shin Amen Ra wasted no time taking the lead and set the pace with his ears pricked. The field was close behind but he seemed to be more than happy to have a horse pushing him the whole way, never looking like he was in any real danger of losing the lead.
Coming into the stretch, A Shin Amen Ra continued to show he was much the best as he pulled away to by seven lengths under Yuichi Fukunaga.
Bought by K. K Eishindo for $325,000 at the Keeneland September Sale in 2018, A Shin Amen Ra joins his stakes winning dam and granddam as Team Block-bred horses. I O Ireland is out of Grade III winner Ioya Two, making her a half-sister to three other stakes winners. The dam of one winner from two to race, I O Ireland visited Uncle Mo in 2019.
It was a strong Friday for American Pharoah, whose son Homeland finished second in the Central Park Stakes at Aqueduct to become his sire’s 11th stakes horse from his first crop.
American Pharoah has sired 24 winners in six countries to lead all First Crop sires this year. The Triple Crown winner has sired four stakes winners in his first crop, led by Grade II Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Four Wheel Drive and Grade II Jessamine Stakes winner Sweet Melania.