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Cafe Pharoah takes Tokyo’s Unicorn Stakes

Japan Racing Association

Koichi Nishikawa’s unbeaten Cafe Pharoah scored his third win in as many starts, taking Sunday’s $630,772 Unicorn Stakes (G3) at Tokyo RaceCourse by five lengths. The 3-year-old colt by American Pharoah, the leader of the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, moved to the pacesetters on the turn, took the lead after turning for home, then drew away smartly in the final furlong when asked for his best, running the 1600m in a stakes record 1:34.90. Trained by Noriyuki Hori, he has earned $580,000 USD to date. Consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, to the 2019 OBS March Sale, he was sold for $475,000 to Narvick International, Agent, after turning in an Under Tack quarter in :21 1/5. watch his under tack video    watch a video of the race

Gaining Ground Racing LLC’s Factor This went to the front at the start of Saturday’s $200,000 Wise Dan Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, and refused to yield, turning back an early challenge, opening daylight in the lane, then hold off a late charge to score by a neck. That’s three straight graded stakes wins for the 5-year-old gelding by The Factor, purchased for $11,000 out of the Niall Brennan Stables consignment at the 2017 OBS April Sale after breezing an eighth in :10 1/5 at the Under Tack Show. Now 29-10-3-4 for trainer Brad Cox, he has earned $844,070 to date. watch his under tack video

Benoit photo

Dan J. Agnew, Rodney E. Orr, Jerry Schneider and John V. Xitco’s lightly raced Collusion Illusion picked up his second graded stakes victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Lazaro Barrera Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita, pressing the pace, wearing down the leader to take command a sixteenth out and drawing away late to score by 3-3/4 lengths. Fellow OBS graduate Howbeit (April ’19) checked in third.  It’s the fourth win in five starts for the 3-year-old Florid-bred colt by Twirling Candy, beaten only when pulled up in the American Pharoah Stakes (G1) last September. Trained by Mark Glatt, he has earned $248,751. After breezing an eighth in :10 flat at the Under Tack Show, he was purchased for $300,000 out of the Mayberry Farm consignment at the 2019 OBS April Sale. watch his under tack video