American Pharoah Posts Bullet in Final Derby Work
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American Pharoah working at Churchill Downs on April 26. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
It may have been a slow work day for Kentucky Derby contenders but the only contender to work was one everyone was waiting for. Probable Kentucky Derby favorite American Pharoah went and blitzed a bullet on the Churchill Downs surface when covering the five furlongs in a time of 58.40.
The work was lauded by those who saw it with private clocker Gary Young saying American Pharoah may be the best horse he’s ever seen.
“I have been doing this for 35 years,” said Young, “and he might be the best horse I’ve ever seen. He’s simply like Michael Jordan and stays in the air like he did in his rookie year. He stays in the air longer than any horse and you get the feeling that there’s not one gear left, but he may have two, three or four gears.”
Trainer Bob Baffert watched the work from the grandstand with owner Ahmed Zayat and his son Justin so they could see how the horse finished up the work. This is one of three horses Zayat is running in the Derby with El Kabier and Mr. Z running for different trainers.
“[American Pharoah’s] such a nice horse,” Baffert said. “I’m just fortunate that I would lucky enough that he sent him to me and I have him. I could have drawn the short stick and gotten another horse. I’m just happy that he’s given me this horse and has gotten me in this position.”
Since losing his debut last year, American Pharoah has won all of his starts with ease. His last start before the Kentucky Derby came in the Arkansas Derby where he won by eight lengths with regular jockey Victor Espinoza aboard.
KENTUCKY DERBY WORKOUT TABLE
Derby Hopeful
Date Most Recent Workout
Distance
Time
Track
Rank
American Pharoah
4/26/2015
5f
58.40
Churchill Downs
1/32
Bolo
4/24/2015
5f
:59.60
Santa Anita
4/51
Carpe Diem
4/25/2015
4f
:48.60
Keeneland
2/63
Danzig Moon
4/24/2015
4f
:48.80
Churchill Downs
31/78
Dortmund
4/25/2015
6f
1:13.60
Santa Anita
19/33
El Kabeir
4/25/2015
4f
:46.81
Belmont Park
3/55
Far Right
4/24/2015
4f
:49.00
Churchill Downs
38/78
Firing Line
4/25/2015
5f
1:02.20
Santa Anita
51/59
Frosted
4/25/2015
5f
1:01.10
Palm Meadows Training Center
2/9
International Star
4/25/2015
4f
:50.80
Churchill Training
10/11
Itsaknockout
4/24/2015
4f
:48.00
Churchill Downs
7/78
Keen Ice
4/25/2015
5f
1:01.60
Churchill Downs
15/67
Materiality
4/24/2015
4f
:48.00
Churchill Downs
7/78
Mr. Z
4/22/2015
5f
1:01.00
Churchill Downs
4/20
Mubtaahij
4/25/2015
4f
:49.70
Arlington Park
N/A
Ocho Ocho Ocho
4/22/2015
6f
1:13.60
Santa Anita
9/10
Stanford
4/24/2015
4f
:48.40
Churchill Downs
19/78
Tencendur
4/25/2015
5f
1:00.00
Churchill Downs
1/67
Upstart
4/25/2015
5f
:59.95
Palm Meadows Training Center
1/9
War Story
4/22/2015
5f
1:02.00
Churchill Downs
7/20
Bubble Hopefuls
Date Most Recent Workout
Distance
Time
Track
Rank
Frammento
4/24/2015
4f
:48.00
Keeneland
4/57
Bold Conquest
4/20/2015
5f
1:02.80
Churchill Downs
6/9
Metaboss
4/17/2015
5f
1:01.80
Keeneland
11/22
Firespike
4/21/2015
5f
1:01.40
Churchill Training
2/6
Toasting Master
4/18/2015
5f
1:00.20
Churchill Downs
9/60