Pioneerof the Nile (USA)
May 5, 2006 – March 18, 2019
Empire Maker (USA) x Star of Goshen (USA), by Lord At War (ARG)
Family 21-a
May 5, 2006 – March 18, 2019
Empire Maker (USA) x Star of Goshen (USA), by Lord At War (ARG)
Family 21-a
The first horse ever bred by Ahmed Zayat, Pioneerof the Nile looked poised to deliver a piece of racing history to the novice owner-breeder in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (USA-G1). The dream was shattered just inside the eighth pole as 50-1 shot Mine That Bird shot up the rail to an improbable victory, and Pioneerof the Nile had no further chance for Classic glory as he suffered a career-ending injury in the BlackBerry Preakness Stakes (USA-G1). It was as a stallion that he wrote his name into the history books, as his son American Pharoah became the first American Triple Crown winner in 37 years in 2015. Unfortunately, Pioneerof the Nile died of an apparent heart attack midway through the 2019 breeding season, at the height of his newfound popularity as a sire.
Race record
10 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$1,634,200
2008:
2009:
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American 2-year-old males of 2008, 6 pounds below champion Midshipman.
Rated at 115 pounds on the 2009 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for his performance in the Santa Anita Derby, 21 pounds below the overall highweight, 2009 European Horse of the Year Sea the Stars (a 3-year-old) and 13 pounds below the best synthetics performer, American champion older female Zenyatta.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Pioneerof the Nile stood 16.2 hands and had plenty of scope and bone as well as good balance. He was a fluent mover, both at the walk and at racing speed, and had a kindly and intelligent nature. As a racehorse, he preferred to come from off the pace and had a strong closing kick.
As a stallion
As of March 11, 2023, The Jockey Club credits Pioneerof the Nile with 47 stakes winners.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Notable progeny
American Pharoah (USA), Classic Empire (USA), Matareya (USA), Midnight Storm (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
A Mo Reay (USA), Speed Boat Beach (USA)
Connections
Pioneerof the Nile was bred and owned by Ahmed Zayat, who raced the horse in the name of his Zayat Stables after buying him back from the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale for US$290,000. Pioneerof the Nile was trained by Bob Baffert. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2010 at Vinery and moved to WinStar Farm in late 2012. He had just returned to his stall from breeding a mare when he died of an apparent heart attack on March 18, 2019.
Pedigree notes
Pioneerof the Nile is outcrossed through five generations. He is out of listed stakes winner Star of Goshen, a half sister to Grade 2 winner Powis Castle (by Rare Brick). The siblings are out of the Key to the Kingdom mare Castle Eight, whose half sister Refrigerated (by It's Freezing) is the dam of restricted stakes winner Mizzo (by Free At Last). Castle Eight is also a half sister to stakes-placed Blackened (by Mamaison), dam of multiple stakes winner Cajun Season (by Gilded Time), and to Smithie (by Beau Genius), dam of multiple stakes winner Junior College (by Ide).
Castle Eight and her siblings are out of Her Native, whose sire Kanumera is a stakes-winning son of Native Dancer. A half sister to multiple stakes winner Broadway Lullaby (by Stage Door Johnny), Her Native is out of the unraced Olympia mare Little Blessing, making her a half sister to stakes winner Bless This Horse (by Stage Door Johnny).
Fun facts
Last updated: December 26, 2023
Race record
10 starts, 5 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$1,634,200
2008:
- Won CashCall Futurity (USA-G1, 8.5FA, Hollywood)
- 3rd Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (USA-G1, 8.5FA, Keeneland)
2009:
- Won Santa Anita Derby (USA-G1, 9FA, Santa Anita)
- Won Robert B. Lewis Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FA, Santa Anita)
- Won San Felipe Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FA, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
Assessments
Rated at 120 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American 2-year-old males of 2008, 6 pounds below champion Midshipman.
Rated at 115 pounds on the 2009 World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for his performance in the Santa Anita Derby, 21 pounds below the overall highweight, 2009 European Horse of the Year Sea the Stars (a 3-year-old) and 13 pounds below the best synthetics performer, American champion older female Zenyatta.
As an individual
A dark bay or brown horse, Pioneerof the Nile stood 16.2 hands and had plenty of scope and bone as well as good balance. He was a fluent mover, both at the walk and at racing speed, and had a kindly and intelligent nature. As a racehorse, he preferred to come from off the pace and had a strong closing kick.
As a stallion
As of March 11, 2023, The Jockey Club credits Pioneerof the Nile with 47 stakes winners.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- 3rd on the North American general sire list in 2015.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 4th on the American general sire list in 2015.
Notable progeny
American Pharoah (USA), Classic Empire (USA), Matareya (USA), Midnight Storm (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
A Mo Reay (USA), Speed Boat Beach (USA)
Connections
Pioneerof the Nile was bred and owned by Ahmed Zayat, who raced the horse in the name of his Zayat Stables after buying him back from the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale for US$290,000. Pioneerof the Nile was trained by Bob Baffert. He entered stud in Kentucky in 2010 at Vinery and moved to WinStar Farm in late 2012. He had just returned to his stall from breeding a mare when he died of an apparent heart attack on March 18, 2019.
Pedigree notes
Pioneerof the Nile is outcrossed through five generations. He is out of listed stakes winner Star of Goshen, a half sister to Grade 2 winner Powis Castle (by Rare Brick). The siblings are out of the Key to the Kingdom mare Castle Eight, whose half sister Refrigerated (by It's Freezing) is the dam of restricted stakes winner Mizzo (by Free At Last). Castle Eight is also a half sister to stakes-placed Blackened (by Mamaison), dam of multiple stakes winner Cajun Season (by Gilded Time), and to Smithie (by Beau Genius), dam of multiple stakes winner Junior College (by Ide).
Castle Eight and her siblings are out of Her Native, whose sire Kanumera is a stakes-winning son of Native Dancer. A half sister to multiple stakes winner Broadway Lullaby (by Stage Door Johnny), Her Native is out of the unraced Olympia mare Little Blessing, making her a half sister to stakes winner Bless This Horse (by Stage Door Johnny).
Fun facts
- A sickly foal, Pioneerof the Nile survived colic and multiple surgeries within his first six months of life.
- Both Pioneerof the Nile and his best son, American Pharoah, were yearling buybacks for Ahmed Zayat.
- Pioneerof the Nile's name is a nod both to the name of his dam, Star of Goshen, and to the Egyptian heritage of Ahmed Zayat, who was born in Cairo and has pursued business interests in both Egypt and the United States.
Last updated: December 26, 2023