Wesley Ward strikes with first Stateside winner for American Pharoah

Trainer Wesley Ward missed out on being the trainer of the first victorious American Pharoah colt or filly, but he doesn't mind being second-best in that regard.

"I'll always be second to Aidan," Ward said, referring to Aidan O'Brien. "He's the greatest."

While O'Brien claimed the distinction of saddling the first American Pharoah winner when Monarch Of Egypt won a maiden race at Naas on April 13 for owners Peter Brant and Coolmore partners, Ward will always be attached to the 2015 Triple Crown champion's second winner, who also happens to be the initial winner in the United States for Coolmore America's first-year sire.

Richard Ravin’s Maven earned that footnote in racing and breeding history when the two-year-old colt posted a half-length victory for Ward, who bred and trains Maven, in the opening race at Aqueduct on Saturday.

"Coolmore hasn't been good to me, they have been exceptionally good to me. Everyone at Coolmore has been wonderful to me. Unfortunately, I didn't get the first American Pharoah winner, but I got the first United States winner," said Ward, who also sent out an American Pharoah filly, Tesorina, to finish third at Aqueduct last Thursday as the first American Pharoah starter in the United States.

With two winners from his first three starters, American Pharoah is off to an auspicious start as a stallion.

"All the ones I have can run," Ward said about the six American Pharoah two-year-olds in his barn. "We'll see how much they can run, but they can run. It's a good testament to the sire. I'm really happy for everyone at Coolmore, and I hope this guy keeps rolling out one winner after another."

Ahmed Zayat, who owned and bred American Pharoah and maintained a share of his stallion rights, said he is not surprised by the Triple Crown winner's early success at stud.

"His foals are living up to everyone's expectations," he said. "I have plenty of American Pharoah's offspring, and it's hard to find one I don't like. There are a lot of different horses by him, but they all seem to share two common characteristics. One is their mind. They are all kind and sweet and you can do anything with them. They are also very fluid. They are great movers. You can see American Pharoah's beautiful movement in them."

American Pharoah: Triple-crown winner's progeny have hit the ground runningCredit: Coolmore

Ward said Kentucky-bred Maven will be pointed to the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot for his next start.

"This guy will be better on the grass. The mare was a multiple stakes winner on the grass, and I'll shoot for the Norfolk with him, and hopefully I can go over there and do some good things there as well with him," Ward said.

Maven is the first foal from the Any Given Saturday mare Richies Party Girl, a black-type winner who scored in five of 15 starts and earned $357,085 for Ravin and Ward, who was also her trainer.

Ward also has recent winners Lady Pauline and Nayibeth targeted for Royal Ascot starts in the Queen Mary Stakes (G2) and Albany Stakes respectively.

The 2-5 favourite, Maven was ridden by Dylan Davis and covered the four and a half furlongs in :52.82. Davis said he appreciated the opportunity to ride the colt.

"It's definitely big for breeding in North America," Davis said. "A big thank you to Wesley Ward for continuing to use me. He's had a big impact on my career as a bug boy and continues to do so.

"With the horse being by American Pharoah, everyone expects a lot and he ran really well," Davis continued. "I was jogging and galloping him in the mornings, so I got a good feel for him. A huge thanks to the connections. I'm sure they're looking for bigger and better things."

Ward said it's clear a lot of people watched Friday's race.

"I'm getting texts from everyone," Ward said. "It's fantastic for racing, for Coolmore, for owner Richard Ravin, and, most importantly, for me. … (Maven) had outstanding works over the Polytrack at Turfway Park, which translates to turf. We'll run him in the Norfolk at Royal Ascot, and hopefully we can put American Pharoah on the big scale as a sire."

American Pharoah stands for a private fee at Coolmore's Ashford Stud.

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