Ashford Stud has set American Pharoah 's stud fee at US$175,000 for the 2020 breeding season, according to the farm's website.
The 2015 Triple Crown winner and expected leading freshman sire for North America had his fee pending the outcome of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which produced strong results for the sire. From three starters, American Pharoah was represented by Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint (G2T) winner Four Wheel Drive and Sweet Melania, who was third in Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).
American Pharoah's first crop has included four black-type winners, three in group/graded stakes—Four Wheel Drive; Sweet Melania, who won the JPMorgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2T); and Maven, who won the Connolly's Redmills Prix du Bois (G3). The sire's five black-type-placed performers include two at the grade 1 level.
At auction, American Pharoah's 2019 yearlings averaged US$407,169, led by an US$8.2 million filly out of Leslie's Lady that Whisper Hill Farm bought from breeder Clarkland Farm. The filly is a half-sister to leading sire Into Mischief and multiple champion Beholder.
American Pharoah entered stud at a published fee of US$200,000 in 2016 and has had his fee listed as private for the past three years.
Ashford also raised the fee for Munnings to US$30,000. The 13-year-old son of Speightstown has had 10 black-type winners this year, including grade 3 winner Fancy Dress Party.
