Year in review: American Pharoah hits big at stud

One of the highlights of the 2019 racing year was watching Triple Crown champion American Pharoah return to the headlines as a promising young sire of the highest caliber.

Four years after American Pharoah made his historic sweep of the Kentucky Derby (G1), Preakness Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1), he’s proving equally adept at siring talented and precocious foals. Much was expected from his first crop—they sold for a hefty average price of $428,200 as yearlings, more than double American Pharoah's $200,000 introductory stud fee—but if anything, they’ve exceeded expectations.

The numbers are impressive. From 70 starters, American Pharoah has sired 26 winners, four stakes winners and three graded stakes winners. Eleven of his foals have placed in stakes races, which demonstrates the quality they’re inheriting from their acclaimed sire. Through December 20, American Pharoah's foals have earned more than $2.6 million, according to data compiled by BloodHorse.com, which makes American Pharoah the leading first-crop sire of 2019 by a wide margin.

Since American Pharoah never raced on grass, it’s ironic that his foals have shown a clear-cut affinity for turf. All four of his stakes winners have achieved their signature victories on grass, including the accomplished Four Wheel Drive, who was victorious in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2), Futurity Stakes (G3) and Rosie’s Stakes.

Four Wheel Drive capped a memorable Breeders’ Cup for American Pharoah’s first crop of foals. The stallion’s two other starters finished in the money, with Skidmore Stakes winner Another Miracle finishing third in the Juvenile Turf Sprint and Jessamine Stakes (G2) winner Sweet Melania claiming the same spot in the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

The proficiency of American Pharoah’s progeny on turf could help make him an international phenomenon, and he’s already making a name for himself abroad. Maven won the Prix du Bois (G3) in France, and Monarchs of Egypt placed second in the Phoenix Stakes (G1) and Railway Stakes (G2) in Ireland. If this success keeps up, American Pharoah bloodlines will be increasingly in demand from European breeders.

A few of American Pharoah’s foals have shown promise on dirt, too. American Theorem produced a runner-up effort in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1), and American Butterfly broke his maiden at Saratoga before he finished fourth in the Hopeful Stakes (G1).

Whether a son of American Pharoah can emulate his sire with a Triple Crown sweep remains to be seen, but it’s safe to say there isn’t a hotter young sire in North America, and the sky is the limit for American Pharoah’s stud career.