American Pharoah brother St Patrick's Day given stallion role in Florida

St Patrick's Day, the Group-placed full-brother to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, will enter stud in 2020 at Brent and Crystal Fernung's Journeyman Stallions near Ocala in Florida.

The four-year-old son of the late Pioneerof The Nile out of Littleprincessemma began his racing career with trainer Bob Baffert at Del Mar in August 2017, finishing second to stablemate Zatter, who went on to be runner-up in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity on his next start.

Thirteen days later, St Patrick's Day broke his maiden, defeating future Graded stakes winner Instilled Regard by half a length.

Racing in the name of Susan Magnier, St Patrick's Day returned to the races in 2018 in Ireland, where he placed twice in six starts on the turf as a three-year-old, including a second in the Group 3 Renaissance Stakes at Naas.

"I trained three of his siblings, all Grade 1 performers," said Baffert. "St Patrick's Day undoubtedly showed that same type of talent when he broke his maiden going :21.97 and :44.92 in his second start."

St Patrick's Day is also a half-brother to Grade 1 and multiple stakes winner Chasing Yesterday and a full-brother to Grade 1-placed winner American Cleopatra.

"I can't express how excited we are to have St Patrick's Day here at Journeyman," Brent Fernung said. "I want to thank Sean Feld of Climax Stallions for approaching us with this outstanding prospect.

"With his pedigree and his talented but abbreviated race record, St Patrick's Day reminds me of Khozan and I think, like Khozan, he'll benefit from these tough Florida mares."

Fernung added that having Stonehedge Farm, Journeyman, and Climax involved in the stallion's syndicate guarantees St Patrick's Day will have a great first book of mares.

Sean Feld, managing director of Climax Stallions, said St Patrick's Day has been on their radar as a stallion prospect since he was sent to Ireland.

"The Climax model is that we buy the brothers of proven sires," Feld said, noting previous purchases include Bullet Train, a half brother to European champion and successful sire Frankel; Curlin To Mischief, a Curlin half-brother to leading sire Into Mischief; and Editorial, a half-brother by War Front to prominent sire Uncle Mo.

"We've been impressed with how Journeyman has managed Khozan and believe with St Patrick's Day's speed, he'll fit the Florida market that favours horses that are quick and early," Feld said. "Khozan has a very similar profile, with speed and a good pedigree."

Khozan is a son of Distorted Humor out of Delta Princess, making him a half-brother to three-time champion Royal Delta and Grade 1 winners Crown Queen and Delta Prince.

Khozan is the leading first-crop sire in Florida and the fifth-leading freshman sire for North America up to October 17.

St Patrick's Day will stand for $5,000 live foal in 2020.

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