Champion American Pharoah Has First Work
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Zayat Stables’ homebred champion American Pharoah, who was withdrawn from the 2014 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I) with an injury, had his first workout of the year Feb. 2, drilling an easy three furlongs in :36 1/5 at Santa Anita Park.
"American Pharoah looked great breezing today," Justin Zayat said on Twitter.
The son of Pioneerof the Nile , who had jockey Martin Garcia aboard for the work, was an overwhelming selection as champion 2-year-old male based on his brilliant scores in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I), defeating Calculator, and FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I), in which he dominated Texas Red and Calculator. Texas Red would come back to romp in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, while Calculator was very impressive winning the Sham Stakes (gr. III) before an injury knocked him off the Derby trail.
Trainer Bob Baffert, who said American Pharoah was as good as any 2-year-old he’s ever trained, will get two races in the ridgling prior to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 2.