New title for American Pharoah: Dad in waiting

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is a dad in waiting.

Coolmore’s Ashford Stud said Friday that Untouched Talent is in foal to American Pharoah. The announcement comes two weeks after the 12-year-old mare became the lucky first lady to be bred to racing’s first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.

A tweet sent by Coolmore says “It’s very early days but we’re happy to confirm Untouched Talent (dam of Bodemeister) is in foal to American Pharoah.”

If all goes well, the first of many baby Pharoahs is about 11 months away.

American Pharoah won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes to become the 12th Triple Crown champion, and closed his racing career with a win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He was retired after the race, and stands at Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky.

Coolmore purchased the breeding rights last year for an undisclosed amount, reported to be in the $20 million range. The stud fee is $200,000, making Pharoah one of the most expensive stallions in North America.

American Pharoah could cover about 170 mares this season. Owner Ahmed Zayat retains a portion of Pharoah’s breeding rights and gets to send some of his own mares to breed to the stallion.

Bodemeister, also owned by Zayat, ran second in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness in 2012. Untouched Talent had a less than distinguished racing career, but her bloodlines run deep and include Storm Cat and A.P. Indy – two of racing’s most successful sires.