American Pharoah Filly Demolishes Rivals at Santa Anita

This column highlights the performances of maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are grade/group winners, or have dams that are grade/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners, in particular, who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners. 

Santa Anita Park

It wasn't until last year when Triple Crown winner American Pharoah  's progeny began to shine on the classic American dirt surface. The Ashford Stud stallion was represented by a number of top-tier dirt horses led by As Time Goes By , American Theorem , Merneith , and Forbidden Kingdom  in addition to Japanese main track star Cafe Pharoah . Thirteen of American Pharoah's 19 graded stakes winners had come on the lawn, and so it wasn't a huge surprise to see his pricey daughter Window Shopping attempt the turf in her career debut last November at Del Mar | BloodHorse.com Track Profile">Del Mar.

Sandwiched between rivals at the break, Window Shopping found herself far back early in a one-mile turf maiden special weight. Pushing her way through traffic late, she performed well enough, finishing sixth. In her next start, she would do much better than well enough.

Given the time to mature over the winter, trainer Richard Mandella brought the red-coated filly back at her own pace, and let her try the only surface her famous sire ever raced over. Window Shopping simply dazzled March 17 at Santa Anita Park.

Outbroken for the early advantage, Window Shopping relaxed into Flavien Prat's hands behind fractions of :22.74 and :46.63. Nudged along by Prat into the run for the far turn, Window Shopping propelled herself up the rail and quickly opened up daylight between her and foes, scampering into the lane already 2 1/2 lengths clear. From there, the $700,000 Keeneland September yearling continued to pour it onto the wire, galloping past the finish a whopping 16 1/2 lengths in front.

Racing for the colors of Perry and Ramona Bass, Window Shopping stopped the clock in 1:37.95 on a fast main track.

Bred by International Equities Holding in Kentucky, Window Shopping is the third foal out of the graded stakes-winning mare Delightful Joy. The Tapit   mare, a daughter of the speedy Graeme Six , was a promising runner herself, breaking her maiden at Gulfstream Park first time out before capturing the two-turn Monmouth Oaks (G3) later that season. Delightful Joy's first foal resulted in Zainalarab , a $1 million acquisition for Shadwell Stable at the 2019 Keeneland September Sale. The War Front   filly, now 5, is still in training with conditioner Brendan Walsh and has won two of her 12 starts for earnings of $185,563.

Gulfstream Park

Juddmonte's homebred Accede , despite being a daughter of turf and polytrack specialist Jibboom , rocketed home a 1 1/2-length winner in her debut March 16 on the main track at Gulfstream Park.

Sent to post as the favorite in the six-furlong maiden special weight, Accede unveiled professionalism throughout, racing in between rivals early before cutting the corner and drawing away under steady urging from jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.

Trained by Chad Brown, the former assistant of Jibboom's conditioner, Bobby Frankel, Accede polished off her rivals in a final time of 1:10.67.

Accede, foaled in Kentucky, is by four-time leading sire Into Mischief   and a half sister to the group 3-winning Oasis Dream  filly Flying Jib . Jibboom's family came into the spotlight recently when her full sister Magnifica's son Gold Phoenix  landed the $500,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) March 4 in a stirring stretch drive. Although Accede impressed in her first start on the dirt, the filly's pedigree gives every indication that she would thrive on the grass.