Mackinnon Another Juvenile Stakes Winner for Pharoah
Breaking his maiden last out, Mackinnon (2c American Pharoah x Scat Means Go, by Scat Daddy) was immediately put into a stakes race by trainer Doug O’Neill for his next start and the move paid off with the juvenile winning the Listed Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes on Monday.
Racing just a few lengths off the leader for much of the one-mile turf race, Mackinnon was happy to bide his time under Juan Hernandez. That time came as they rounded the turn and he was swung outside those in front of him to make his move.
Mackinnon showed an outstanding turn of foot in the lane to first collar than go past the leaders. The colt pulled away in the end to win by 1 ¾ lengths as American Pharoah’s second juvenile stakes winner in a week. The race turned out to be a good one for young Ashford stallions with Caravaggio’s Silver Surfer just getting nosed out for second behind Mackinnon.
“He broke his maiden (here July 31) in a manner that we were hoping this day would come but you never know,” O’Neill said. “So much credit to the owners being so patient and Juan (Hernandez) being so patient with this colt. I was a little bit concerned as the race unfolded. I knew that (Optimising) was the X-factor. When Juan called on MacKinnon and he responded I started smiling. If he stays injury free the ($1 Million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on November 5) is the goal.”
Owned by ERJ Racing and Dave Kenney, Mackinnon was a $285,000 Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream buy from Gene Recio by ERJ Racing earlier this year. Recio purchased him from Gainesway for $200,000 last October at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale.
Mackinnon is bred by International Equities Holding out of the Grade 3-placed Scat Daddy mare Scat Means Go. One of four winners for her own dam, Scat Means Go is also the granddaughter of stakes-placed Ashley Anne’s Wish.
Mackinnon is the 21st worldwide stakes winner for American Pharoah, whose 13 stakes winners and 19 stakes performers in 2021 sitting in the top 10 among all North American sires by both stakes winners and stakes performers.