American Pharoah Takes Haskell With Ease

The crown didn't prove heavy for American Pharoah.

Looking every bit like his Triple Crown-winning self Sunday, Aug. 2 at Monmouth Park, American Pharoah won the $1.75 million William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes  (gr. I) with ease, cruising home 2 1/4 lengths in front of Keen Ice while wrapped up by Victor Espinoza.  

In his first race since sealing the Triple Crown with a 5 1/2-length score in the Belmont Stakes presented by DraftKings (gr. I) and following several weeks of parading and greeting fans, the Zayat Stables colt most assuredly remembered his first calling Sunday, easily winning the richest race contested at Monmouth since the 2007 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

In the 1 1/8-mile Haskell, American Pharoah tracked early leader Competitive Edge through fractions of :23.22, :46.14, and 1:09.60, moved effortlessly outside the leader on the final turn, and distanced himself from the rest of the field in the stretch before being geared down, thrilling a Monmouth record crowd of 60,983.

"The crowd was insane," trainer Bob Baffert said. "They were so loud. They were as loud as the Belmont."

The early going proved crucial when jockey Victor Espinoza opted to track a length behind the speedy Competitive Edge, winner of last year’s Hopeful Stakes (gr. I).

"That other horse (Competitive Edge), he wanted the lead so I sat a little back. I didn't want to go head to head," said Espinoza, confident American Pharoah would soon have his say. "I never like to go head to head with a horse so I sit back a half-length, length behind. He did everything on his own."

Espinoza wouldn't say if American Pharoah has improved since the Triple Crown. He's always believed the Pioneerof the Nile   colt has been at a special level.

"He's always a champion. There's not really any horse that can win a Triple Crown and not be a champion. He's always been a champion, that's why he won the Triple Crown," Espinoza said. "And today, he showed it again; very easy, very impressive."

Baffert, who picked up his eighth Haskell victory and fifth in six years, said he was nervous going into the race, but those nerves would quickly be alleviated. Baffert looked at the half-mile time, glanced at American Pharoah just galloping along within himself, and marveled.

"Competitive Edge is a very fast horse. Victor had a hold of (American Pharoah) and they looked like they were going in :48 or something," said Baffert, shaking his head in amazement at the depth of the Triple Crown winner’s talents.

It was about that point that Zayat Stables racing manager Justin Zayat turned to Baffert for an in-race assessment.

"I looked at Bob and he said, ‘We’re good,’" Zayat said. "As soon as I heard that, that’s when I started yelling, ‘Unleash the beast,’ and Victor just let him go."

It almost seemed unfair when Competitive Edge dug in to complete a third quarter in :23.46 while American Pharoah galloped along, staying just one length behind through six furlongs. Then the show really began.

American Pharoah surged past the front-runner—setting off a Jersey Shore roar—opened a five-length lead in the stretch, and waltzed to the finish to complete 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.95 on a fast track.

"I watch as a fan and I wonder, ‘Where did he come from?’" Baffert said. "I’ve had some really nice horses over the years, but what he does is just incredible."

Among horses not named American Pharoah, Donegal Racing’s Keen Ice would put together a nice finish, in his first start since running third in the Belmont, to claim second, three lengths ahead of two-time grade II winner Upstart. Competitive Edge faded to fourth.

Keen Ice trainer Dale Romans said American Pharoah is the best horse he's ever run against.

Making his first start in 57 days, both Baffert and owner Ahmed Zayat confessed being nervous before the race, saying they didn’t want to let the fans downs. American Pharoah would deliver at 1-10 odds, becoming the eighth Triple Crown winner to win their first start back after the classics.

"Imagine the feeling if we leave the gate at (1-10) and disappoint fans? This time it was all about the fans and I did not want to disappoint," Zayat said. "My first feeling is I was extremely nervous because I wanted everybody to be proud and to see a true star continue to thrive."

But Zayat added that American Pharoah had been training well on a deep Del Mar surface and Baffert wouldn't have brought him if he wasn't primed and Espinoza does a great job of protecting the horse once the race is decided.

The victory gives American Pharoah five straight grade I victories and eight straight graded stakes wins—seven of which are grade I scores. He won two grade I races last year to secure champion 2-year-old male honors and is a lock for champion 3-year-old male and Horse of the Year this season.

The biggest favorite to ever win the Haskell, American Pharoah returned $2.20 to win, $2.10 to place, and $2.10 to show, while Keen Ice returned $4.80 and $2.80. Upstart paid $2.40 to show.

The Haskell is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge "Win & You’re In" race, but the connections will first consider a start before the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) at Keeneland. Baffert and the Zayats said they’ll return to Southern California and make their decision.