Pioneerof the Nile
| Pioneerof the Nile | |
|---|---|
 Pioneerof the Nile at WinStar Farm | |
| Sire | Empire Maker |
| Grandsire | Unbridled |
| Dam | Star of Goshen |
| Damsire | Lord at War |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 2006 |
| Country | United States |
| Color | Dark Bay/Brown |
| Breeder | Zayat Stables |
| Owner | Zayat Stables |
| Trainer | Bob Baffert |
| Record | 9: 5-1-1 |
| Earnings | US$$1,634,200 |
| Major wins | |
|
CashCall Futurity (2008) Kentucky Derby 2nd (2009) | |
Pioneerof the Nile (foaled May 5, 2006 in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the second-place finisher in the 2009 Kentucky Derby. He is the sire of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.
Background
Pioneerof the Nile is a bay horse bred in Kentucky by his owner Zayat Stables. He was sired by 2003 Belmont Stakes winner, Empire Maker. His dam, Star of Goshen, was a stakes-winning daughter of Lord at War, a multiple grade I winner whose victories included the 1985 Santa Anita Handicap. During his racing career, the colt was trained by Bob Baffert.
Pioneerof the Nile's unusual name owes to the fact that The Jockey Club limits application submissions to 18 characters, including spaces; thus Zayat Stables dropped a space between "Pioneer" and "of".[1]
At a 2007 yearling auction, the as-yet-unnamed Pioneerof the Nile was "bought back" by Zayat for $290,000 after failing to achieve bids commensurate with the owner's expectations.[2] He matured to stand 16.2 hands (66 inches, 168 cm).[3]
Racing career
As a two-year-old Pioneerof the Nile won the Grade I CashCall Futurity. In his 3-year-old campaign, he won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, the San Felipe Stakes, and California's most important race for his age group, the Santa Anita Derby.
Pioneerof the Nile finished second to Mine That Bird in the 2009 Kentucky Derby over a sloppy track. He finished 11th in The Preakness Stakes.
Retirement
Pioneerof the Nile was retired from racing after a soft tissue injury in July 2009. He first stood at the Vinery Stud in Lexington, Kentucky in 2010 for a stud fee of $17,500.[4] Zayat retained a 75% interest in the stallion, when he normally keeps a 25% share.[5] His first crop of foals began racing in 2013. From his first crop he sired Derby prospects Cairo Prince, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes, and Social Inclusion, who finished 3rd in the Preakness Stakes. In his second season at stud he sired the 2014 American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse American Pharoah, who became the 12th U.S. Triple Crown winner in 2015.
As of 2016 Pioneerof the Nile currently stands at WinStar Farm. In 2015 his fee was increased to $60,000.[6] Following the notable racing success of American Pharoah, in October 2015, it was announced that Pioneerof the Nile's stud fee had more than doubled, and he would stand the 2016 season for a fee of $125,000,[7] though Justin Zayat, son of Ahmed Zayat, said offers as high as $150,000 had been entertained for 2016.[8] Another son, Classic Empire, now carries the torch for Pioneerof The Nile after winning both the Claiborne Breeders Futurity and the 2016 Breeders Cup Juvenile.
References
- ↑ Hoppert, Melissa (May 22, 2015). "So, Who Misspelled American Pharoah?". New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2015.
- ↑ MacDonald, Michele. "American Pharoah: the Early Development of a Champion". Thoroughbred Daily News. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
- ↑ http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/92509/marketwatch-walden-on-pioneerof-the-nile
- ↑ "Pioneerof the Nile". Stallion Register Online. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ↑ "2015 Belmont Stakes Press Conference" (video). The Blood Horse. 23:45. June 6, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
- ↑ Hoppert, Melissa (June 5, 2015). "Turn-Ons: Peppermints, Cool Breezes. Turn-Offs: Mares Who Move Too Fast.". The New York Times. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
- ↑ "Pioneerof the Nile's Fee More Than Doubles". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
- ↑ Rovell, Darren (May 18, 2015). "Farms offer more than $20M for American Pharoah's breeding rights". ESPN News. Retrieved May 24, 2015.