American Pharoah to Continue Racing, Target Breeders’ Cup Classic

American Pharoah (above winning the William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes) will remain in training and target the $5-million Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland Race Course. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
By Claire Novak, @BH_CNovak
Content Provided by Blood-Horse
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah will point for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic after all.
Despite comments following the colt's runner-up finish in the Aug. 29 Travers Stakes, which indicated he was considering retirement for American Pharoah, owner Ahmed Zayat announced Sept. 3 that after discussions with Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, he will point to the Oct. 31 Classic at Keeneland Race Course.
“I have discussed all aspects of American Pharoah’s race last Saturday in the Travers—and his condition since the race—with our whole team, and have decided American Pharoah deserves another chance, so we are pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Classic,” Zayat said in a statement.
American Pharoah was three-quarters of a length behind Keen Ice in the Travers, his first loss of the season and only the second from 10 starts overall. The loss came on the heels of his Aug. 2 victory in the Grade 1 William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes, a score made in easy, geared-down fashion, and ended an eight-race win streak.
“I am very confident in my decision,” Zayat said. “Not a moment has gone by since the race on Saturday when I have not thought about this decision. My initial concern right after the race was about American Pharoah's condition, because he did not run his 'A' race. He has come out of the race in great shape. And after examining all the evidence and talking it over with our team—Bob Baffert, my son Justin [racing manager for Zayat Stables], [assistant trainer] Jimmy Barnes, and [jockey] Victor Espinoza—I believe there were a combination of factors that prevented American Pharoah from running his absolute best on Saturday. I have every confidence that he can run to his best again, and he deserves the chance to do so."
Zayat told ESPN.com that he didn't know whether American Pharoah would be given a prep race before the Breeders’ Cup, and that Baffert would monitor the Pioneerof the Nile colt’s progress in the coming weeks before plans are finalized. Should he run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic as planned, American Pharoah would be the first U.S. Triple Crown winner to do so.
The brilliant bay won the Kentucky Derby by a length over Firing Line on May 2, took the Xpressbet.com Preakness by seven lengths two weeks later in a driving rainstorm and galloped by 5 1/2 lengths over Frosted in the Belmont Stakes Presented by DraftKings on June 6 to end a 37-year drought as America’s newest Triple Crown winner.  
As previously announced, American Pharoah will enter stud at Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky., upon his retirement.
“I am very confident that this is the right decision for American Pharoah,” Zayat said. “He loves to race. He has provided my family, racing fans, and general sports fans with great thrills this year. He won the Triple Crown earlier this year, and he deserves the chance to be in the sport's premier year-end event.”

VALIANT IN DEFEAT: 2015 TRAVERS STAKES