American Pharoah Registers Sunday Stakes Double in G2 Triple Bend

American Pharoah’s strong Sunday continued at Santa Anita when American Theorem (5h American Pharoah x Mighty Renee, by Maria’s Mon) won the Grade II Triple Bend Stakes.

Making his fifth start of the year for Kretz Racing and George Papaprodromou. The Grade I-placed runner was happy to take up a spot in midpack in the seven furlong dirt race, tracking the leaders on the dirt. Taken a few paths wide around the turn, he ranged up alongside the leaders as they swept past the quarter pole before entering a duel with one of them as the others fell back.

American Theorem wasn’t to be denied his first graded stakes victory, putting a determined nose in front of his rival as the line with the rest of the field over three lengths back.

It was the sixth top two finish in 11 starts for American Theorem, who had finished second in the Grade I American Pharoah Stakes as a 2-year-old.

“I think he’s a great horse and like I’ve said, I love this horse,” said Papaprodromou. “Congrats to my owners, Kretz Racing, they’re the best owners ever. Hopefully, we’ll move forward from this.”

Bred by Sierra Farm, American Theorem is the fourth stakes winner for Mighty Renee alongside Grade III winner Mighty Caroline, multiple stakes winner Cyclogenisis, and stakes winner Renee’s Queen. Mighty Renee is also the dam of the stakes placed Viel Spass. American Theorem’s third dam is the dual Grade I winning Over All, who has eight stakes performers under her own name on the page.

Mighty Renee has an unnamed 2-year-old by Classic Empire, who was a $210,000 yearling and visited Tiz The Law last year.

American Pharoah’s two graded stakes winners today came at seven furlongs on the dirt and 1 ¼ miles on the turf, continuing to show the versatility of the Triple Crown winner’s runners.