'Pharoah' Developers Honored in Florida
Image:
Description:
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
American Pharoah captured Triple Crown with Belmont victory
A Florida senator has filed a resolution honoring J.B. and Kevin McKathan, who played a major role in the early development of Triple Crown winner and Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) favorite American Pharoah.
Sen. Dorothy Hukill, whose district includes Marion County, the heart of Florida's Thoroughbred breeding industry and home to McKathan Brothers Training Center in Citra, filed the resolution Oct. 30, a day before American Pharoah wraps up his racing career in the Classic at Keeneland.
The resolution states that the Florida Senate "commends the McKathan brothers for their work, which ensures that Marion County remains one of the prime areas for raising some of the best racehorses in the sport."
American Pharoah, who was bought back at $300,000 at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale, was sent by owner Zayat Stables to the McKathans for his early training. The brothers also developed future stakes winners El Kabeir and Mr. Z for Zayat Stables.
"Receiving him, he was a big, rugged, strong colt," Kevin McKathan said of American Pharoah in a BloodHorse.com story earlier this year. "He looked the part. Once he hit the racetrack, he was a different breed.
"He was the best horse on the farm all year. He was just by far the best horse there. And he has continued to be that in his racing career."
The Kentucky-bred Pioneerof the Nile colt was the champion 2-year-old male of 2014. Entering the $5 million Classic, American Pharoah has eight wins in 10 starts and earnings of $5,900,300.
The McKathan brothers are featured in a horse industry-supported advertisement that opposes the decoupling of racing from slot machines at tracks that have gaming in Florida. Horsemen in the state have said lawmakers are considering such action as part of broader gaming legislation.
"If we allow any form of decoupling to happen, it will start a slow erosion toward the ruin of horse racing in Florida," J.B. McKathan said. "There will be no money and no reason for our clients to stay and race their horses here."