Mid-March Debut Can Work for American Pharoah
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Fans of American Pharoah may be getting a little anxious with the mid-March debut of last year's champion 2-year-old male.
After all, 14 points races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) have been offered in 2015, and last year's champion 2-year-old male has not started in any of them. The first three Kentucky Derby Future Wagers have opened and closed for wagering with American Pharoah taking some betting action—despite his lack of action on the track this year.
Months have passed to the point that when American Pharoah makes his 3-year-old debut on Saturday in the March 14 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) at Oaklawn Park, it will come just seven weeks before the May 2 Kentucky Derby.
NOVAK: Cue Baffert: American Pharoah Heads Rebel
The fast-approaching classics may give fans of the champion concern as he prepares for his first start since winning the Frontrunner Stakes (gr. I) Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park before injury ended his juvenile campaign prior to the Breeders' Cup, but a look at recent history suggests a mid-March debut can work out well.
In fact, that mid-March debut was the initial step of the two champion 2-year-old males among the past 10 to win classic races. Street Sense , champion 2-year-old male of 2006, first started in his 3-year-old season March 17, 2007, with a narrow victory in the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) before winning the Derby seven weeks later. Champion 2-year-old male of 2009 Lookin At Lucky also made his 3-year-old debut seven weeks before the Derby with a narrow victory in the Rebel. While Lookin At Lucky finished off the board in the Derby, he scored a clear victory in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Street Sense first started in his 3-year-old season March 17, 2007, with win in the Tampa Bay Derby.
Lookin At Lucky's first start at 3 was a win in the Rebel Stakes March 13, 2010.
Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman's Lookin At Lucky was trained by Bob Baffert, who also is the trainer of Zayat Stables homebred American Pharoah. Baffert will send out American Pharoah in the Rebel Saturday... seven weeks out from the Derby.
A look at the 3-year-old debuts of the 10 previous champion 2-year-old males follows:
Shared Belief, champion 2-year-old male of 2013
Date, race, track, and finish in 3-year-old debut: May 26, allowance race, Golden Gate Fields, won by 4 1/4 lengths.
Classic performance: Did not start in Triple Crown races.
Top accomplishments in 3-year-old season: Won five of six races including grade I wins in the Awesome Again, Malibu, and TVG Pacific Classic stakes.
Shanghai Bobby , champion 2-year-old male of 2012
Date, race, track, and finish in 3-year-old debut: Jan. 26, Holy Bull Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park, second to Itsmyluckyday.
Classic performance: Did not start in Triple Crown races.
Top accomplishments in 3-year-old season: Won the Aljamin Stakes in September at Belmont Park in the final start of his career.
Hansen, champion 2-year-old male of 2011
Date, race, track, and finish in 3-year-old debut: Jan. 29, Holy Bull, Gulfstream, second to Algorithms.
Classic performance: Finished ninth in Derby and did not start in the Preakness or Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
Top accomplishments in 3-year-old season: Won the Gotham Stakes (gr. III) and finished second in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) before the classics; won the Iowa Derby (gr. III) in the summer.
Uncle Mo , champion 2-year-old male of 2010
Date, race, track, and finish in 3-year-old debut: March 12, Timely Writer Stakes, Gulfstream, won by 3 3/4 lengths.
Classic performance: Did not start in Triple Crown races.
Top accomplishments in 3-year-old season: Won the Kelso Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont, ran third in the Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Lookin At Lucky, champion 2-year-old male of 2009
Date, race, track, and finish in 3-year-old debut: March 13, Rebel, Oaklawn, won by head
Classic performance: Won the Preakness after finishing sixth in Derby; didn't race in the Belmont.
Top accomplishments in 3-year-old season: Preakness winner also won the Izod Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I) at Monmouth Park and earned champion 3-year-old male honors.
Midshipman , champion 2-year-old male of 2008
Date, race, track, and finish in 3-year-old debut: Sept. 18, allowance-optional claiming race at Belmont, won by 3 1/4 lengths.
Classic performance: Did not start in Triple Crown races.
Top accomplishments in 3-year-old season: Finished third in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I).
War Pass, champion 2-year-old male of 2007
Date, race, track, and finish in 3-year-old debut: Feb. 24, allowance race, Gulfstream, won by 7 1/2 lengths.
Classic performance: Did not start in Triple Crown races.
Top accomplishments in 3-year-old season: War Pass finished second in the Wood Memorial, final start of his career.
Street Sense, champion 2-year-old male of 2006
Date, race, track, and finish in 3-year-old debut: March 17, Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, won by a nose.
Classic performance: Won the Kentucky Derby; second in the Preakness.
Top accomplishments in 3-year-old season: Besides his Derby victory, Street Sense also won the Travers Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.
Stevie Wonderboy, champion 2-year-old male of 2005
Date, race, track, and finish in 3-year-old debut: Jan. 14, San Rafael Stakes (gr. II), Santa Anita Park, finished second.
Classic performance: Did not start in Triple Crown races.
Top accomplishments in 3-year-old season: Didn't race after runner-up finish in the San Rafael.
Declan's Moon, champion 2-year-old male of 2004
Date, race, track, and finish in 3-year-old debut: March 5, Santa Catalina Stakes (gr. II), Santa Anita, won by two lengths.
Classic performance: Did not start in Triple Crown races.
Top accomplishments in 3-year-old season: Santa Catalina win was only stakes placing at 3.