American Pharoah Has Lone Churchill Breeze
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American Pharoah, likely favorite for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and impressive winner of the April 11 Arkansas Derby (gr. I) last time out, finally got the chance to stretch his legs April 26 at Churchill Downs.
In his lone work before the May 2 Run for the Roses, Zayat Stables' homebred son of Pioneerof the Nile went five furlongs in :58 2/5 under jockey Martin Garcia at about 8:30 a.m. EDT under the watchful eye of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who flew in from California to supervise the breeze. The move was fastest of 32 at the distance on the day.
"It went well, the track was in great shape this morning," Baffert said. "He was pretty anxious (to run) today; it was the first time he worked since he ran. Martin Garcia was on him and he just let him leave the five and a half and he was just clipping along. He was doing it in hand, but that's the way he works. Mr. Zayat was worried he was going too fast but that's how he works in California."
Churchill clockers caught American Pharoah in splits of :11 2/5, :23, :34 3/5, and :46 2/5 with a gallop-out in 1:11 2/5 and 1:27. American Pharoah has been in Louisville since April 13.
"He galloped out strong, came back and wasn't blowing, just handled it well," Baffert said. "He's right where we want him to be, he hasn't regressed, he looks great, so it's pretty exciting to come in here... here on out we just keep him happy."
Despite missing a run in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) because of an injury to his left front foot, American Pharoah has strung together four straight victories in graded stakes spanning his 2-year-old season in September (the grade I Del Mar Futurity and grade I FrontRunner Stakes) and his 3-year-old season, which began with a 6 1/4-length romp in the slop in the March 14 Rebel Stakes (gr. II) before the Arkansas Derby score.
The 2014 Eclipse Award-winning champion 2-year-old male, American Pharoah has won those four races by a combined 22 1/4 lengths. Victor Espinoza, who won the Kentucky Derby last year with eventual Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male California Chrome, has been aboard American Pharoah for all four victories and has the Derby mount.