Arkansas Derby Next Step for American Pharoah

In a start his connections hope goes as smoothly as his previous three races, Zayat Stables' homebred American Pharoah will try to wrap up his Triple Crown prep season with a victory in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I) on Saturday, April 11 at Oaklawn Park.

Trained by Bob Baffert, American Pharoah is aiming to become the first champion 2-year-old male to win the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) since Street Sense   in 2007. But before that anticipated start in Louisville, American Pharoah must take care of business as the 1-2 morning-line favorite in Saturday's 1 1/8-mile test at Oaklawn.

A son of Zayat's 2009 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile  , American Pharoah opened the season with a front-end waltz to a 6 1/4-length victory in the Rebel Stakes (gr. II) March 14 at Oaklawn.

NOVAK: American Pharoah Romps in Rebel

That effort was his first since wrapping up championship honors last year with grade I victories in the Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar and FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita Park. He has won his past three races by a combined 14 1/4 lengths.

American Pharoah missed the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) because of a foot injury and Baffert chose to bring him back slowly this year. Justin Zayat, racing manager for Zayat Stables, said American Pharoah was considered for a start in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) March 7 at Santa Anita, but Baffert opted to get one more work into him and ship to Oaklawn for the Rebel.

"Bob has had a lot of luck shipping into Oaklawn so there was no fear for us going into Oaklawn, and the track there we've had a lot of good luck over the years," Zayat said, noting the 2012 Arkansas Derby victory by Bodemeister   there ahead of his runner-up finishes in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (gr. I). "We're very fond of the Arkansas Derby route."

Baffert, who last week saddled Santa Anita Derby winner Dortmund and runner-up One Lucky Dane, enjoys watching American Pharoah deliver a top effort. 

"He's fast, but he does it effortlessly. He cruises effortlessly," Baffert said. "He hasn't been in a dog fight, so we don't know how he's going to respond, it's like the final four and we're in the smaller brackets now where things start to pick up a little bit. So I think after his next race we'll know a lot more about him."

Zayat Stables also will send out Mr. Z, who is trained by D. Wayne Lukas, in Saturday's race.

American Pharoah is not the only 3-year-old in the field of eight who has enjoyed success at Oaklawn this season as Harry Rosenblum and Robert LaPenta's Far Right will be making his first start since a victory in the Southwest Stakes (gr. III) on Feb. 22. Trained by Ron Moquett, the son of Notional   also won the Smarty Jones at Oaklawn in his first outing this season.

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The Arkansas Derby also has attracted the Rebel runner-up in Cheyenne Stables and Mac Nichol's Madefromlucky, who is trained by Todd Pletcher.

Rounding out Saturday's expected field are Harold Lerner's The Truth Or Else, Tom O'Grady's Bridget's Big Luvy, Ackerly Brothers Farm's Bold Conquest, and Kretz Racing's Win the Space.