Koichi Nishikawa’s Cafe Pharoah became just the second horse to successfully defend his title in the $2,254,000, Gr. I February Stakes at Tokyo Racecourse. He went after the leaders turning for home, took command a furlong out and drew off to win by 2 1/2 lengths in a track record-equaling 1:33.8 for the 1,600 meters. It’s the fourth graded stakes win for the 5-year-old son of American Pharoah, consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, to the 2019 OBS March Sale, where he was sold for $475,000 to Narvick International, Agent, after breezing an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5. Trained by Noriyuki Hori, he’s now 11-6-0-0 with nearly $3 million in earnings.

    On the same card, Yuji Hasegawa’s Sea Vixen, a 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief, finished a good third against the boys in the $300,000 Hyacinth Stakes. She was purchased for $500,000 at the 2021 March Sale out of the Gene Recio consignment after speeding an Under Tack eighth in :9 4/5. 

    David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa’s Miles Ahead was rated on the outside early in the $150,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes, rallied to catch favored Drain the Clock a sixteenth from home and wore him down to score by a neck. It’s the third straight win for the 5-year-old graded stakes-winning gelding by Competitive Edge, trained by Eddie Plesa, now 21-11-3-1 with $435,725 in earnings. At the 2019 OBS March Sale, he turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 and was purchased for $175,000 out of the Top Line Sales consignment.  comments powered by Disqus