11:20AM, FEB 21 2021
American Pharoah notched his third top-flight winner, and first on dirt, when his son Cafe Pharoah claimed the Grade 1 February Stakes at Tokyo on Sunday. The US-bred four-year-old was adding to his two Grade 3 victories, having won the Unicorn Stakes and the Sirius Stakes last year.
Jockey Christophe Lemaire tracked the leaders aboard the powerfully-built bay, and having hit the front entering the final furlong, Cafe Pharoah ran on strongly to deny the fast-finishing Air Spinel, a son of King Kamehameha, by three-quarters of a length. His condition was super and I had confidence already in the paddock, said Lemaire. We decided to use cheekpieces hoping for a more aggressive performance. His start was good, we were positioned well and he responded beautifully. The colt has such high potential. I had no doubt that he could land a Grade 1 win if he gave his best. I’m happy that it all worked out today.