'Pharoah' Records Final Workout for AR Derby
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American Pharoah put in his final workout for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I), breezing six furlongs in 1:11 3/5 the morning of April 5 at Santa Anita Park.
Santa Anita clockers recorded the son of Pioneerof the Nile 's first four furlong fractions in :12 1/5, :24 1/5, :36 1/5, and :48 flat. He galloped out to seven furlongs in 1:24 flat.
"He's a fun horse to watch train, because he does things so effortlessly," trainer Bob Baffert said. "Everything went well. Perfect work—couldn't' have gone any better."
Baffert said the Zayat Stables' homebred colt will ship April 8 to Oaklawn Park for the 1 1/8-mile classics prep April 11.
The conditioner had another 3-year-old work Sunday morning in debut maiden special weight winner Whiskey Ticket.
The son of Ghostzapper covered five furlongs in 1:00 1/5, and Baffert said the colt is pointing to the $400,000 Illinois Derby (gr. III) at Hawthorne Race Course April 18. At 14-1 odds, Whiskey Ticket won his debut by a head March 19, going a mile at Santa Anita.