Inside the Numbers: A Look at American Pharoah’s Historic Career
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American Pharoah closed out his career with a win in the Breeders' Cup Classic. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
American Pharoah wrapped up his legendary racing career on Saturday, having cemented his status among the all-time greats. The Triple Crown winner went out with a victory that was much like the rest of his wins: dominant. His record-tying 6 ½-length triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic wowed 50,000 fans at Keeneland Race Course and millions more worldwide, a fitting ending to a storybook career.
Though his on-track presence will surely be missed, let’s marvel at what we all have witnessed over the last 15 months and take a look at just some of the accomplishments American Pharoah will be remembered for.
1. American Pharoah lost his debut at Del Mar last summer but then broke his maiden in his next start, which happened to be the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity and the launch of an eight-race win streak.
2. American Pharoah’s average margin of victory was more than 5 ¼ lengths.
3. He set a track record at Keeneland for 1 ¼ miles in his final start.
4. He was the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years and the first in the Breeders’ Cup era. His Classic win set the bar for any future Triple Crown winners.
AMERICAN PHAROAH WINNING THE KENTUCKY DERBY
5. The colt was the betting favorite in every race of his life except for the Del Mar Futurity in which he was the bettors’ second choice.
6. Though he missed the Breeders’ Cup last fall, American Pharoah’s pair of overpowering Grade 1 wins earned him the 2014 2-year-old championship.
7. Words like “gallantly,” “easily,” “took charge” and “handily” were all used to describe his wins on official race charts.
8. American Pharoah’s eight Grade 1 wins came at eight different tracks.
9. American Pharoah won from post position No. 1 and No. 15, as well as No. 3, No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6.
10. He ran eight times in the seven months from March to October 2015, with seven of them resulting in impressive wins.
AMERICAN PHAROAH WITH FANS
11. American Pharoah could set the pace on the front end, like he did in the Classic, or rate just off of it like he did in the Haskell, Kentucky Derby and Arkansas Derby. Either way he nearly always came out on top.
12. American Pharoah’s $8,288,800 in 2015 earnings is the most in one season by any North American horse. His $8,650,300 in career earnings ranks him fourth all-time among North American based horses but No. 1 among horses retired at age 3.
13. Pharoah has sewn up champion 3-year-old and Horse of the Year honors for 2015, bringing his career Eclipse award total to three in two seasons on the track.
14. He will become only the second male horse since 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed to be named champion at ages 2 and 3.
15. American Pharoah's stud fee in his first year at stud will be $200,000, tied with War Front and second only to leading sire Tapit's 2016 fee in the U.S.