American Pharoah, Castellano Set Records

Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner American Pharoah   established a single-season record for earnings in 2015 while his owner Zayat Stables finished the year as leading owner by earnings.

In two other categories, trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Javier Castellano again finished on top (for the sixth consecutive year and third consecutive year, respectively), according to final statistics released Jan. 1 by Equibase Co., the Thoroughbred industry's official database for racing information. 

American Pharoah won seven graded races and earned a record $8,288,800 in 2015, breaking the previous single-season earnings record set in 2004 by dual classic winner Smarty Jones   when he earned $7,563,535 (which included a $5 million bonus). 

American Pharoah became Thoroughbred racing's 12th Triple Crown winner when he won the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) by 5 1/2 lengths on June 6. He was the first horse in 37 years to complete the classic series, following in the footsteps of Affirmed, who won the Triple Crown in 1978.

During his Triple Crown season, Affirmed earned $901,541, eclipsing a single-season earnings mark held by Secretariat, who had earned $860,404 during his Triple Crown season in 1973.

Six of American Pharoah's seven wins came in grade I stakes, including the Arkansas Derby and the William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes in addition to his three classic victories and Breeders' Cup Classic win. American Pharoah is one of 15 horses to have won at least six grade I races in one year. Only three horses have won more than six grade I races in a single year: Lady's Secret won eight in 1986, Cigar won eight in 1995, and Bayakoa won seven in 1989. 

Completing the list of top 10 horses by North American earnings were Tepin with $2,092,520, Honor Code   with $2,075,660, Frosted with $1,912,200,  Effinex with $1,767,100, Keen Ice with $1,735,770, Tonalist   with $1,695,000, Stephanie's Kitten with $1,658,800, Found with $1,650,000, and Nyquist with $1,613,600. All horses ranked in the top 10 competed in the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships with six competing in the Breeders' Cup Classic and with Tepin, Stephanie's Kitten, Found (Ire), and Nyquist each winning their respective races in addition to American Pharoah. 

(When including the results of the Dubai World Cup card from March 28, 2015, at Meydan Racecourse, California Chrome   was the second-leading earner, with $2,100,000.)

Pletcher, who led all trainers for the past five years and previously topped the trainers' list from 2004-2007, sent out the winners of 269 races from 1,124 starts and $26,278,647 in purses in 2015. Runner-up was Chad C. Brown, who won 203 races from 768 starts and purses of $20,256,459 for the year. (Brown's results in 2015 again included an impressive record on turf, leading all other trainers for the second consecutive year with a record of 138 wins from 524 starters on grass and earnings of $15,152,330.) 

Completing the list of top 10 trainers by North American earnings in 2015 were Bob Baffert, $16,221,741 (83 wins /388 starts); Mark Casse, $13,697,149 (159/896); Jerry Hollendorfer, $11,625,395 (219/1,114); Bill Mott, $11,435,065 (129/720); Steve Asmussen, $10,768,759 (252/1,499); Kiaran McLaughlin, $9,635,721 (93/393); Christophe Clement, $9,218,937 (100/505); and Graham Motion, $7,751,107 (99/700). 

In 2015, Javier Castellano established a single-season earnings record in leading the annual North American leading jockeys' list, breaking his own record set in 2013. (Castellano also led all riders in the number of wins in 2015, a feat he also accomplished in 2013.) In leading all riders in 2015, Castellano reached the winner's circle 344 times from 1,507 mounts and ended the year with earnings of $28,120,767. Irad Ortiz Jr. who finished third in 2014, was the runner-up in 2015 with 300 wins from 1,415 mounts and earnings of $23,546,727. 

Rounding out the list of top 10 jockeys by North American earnings in 2015 were John Velazquez, $20,394,627 (193 wins/1,001 mounts); Jose Ortiz, $17,327,026 (244/1,361); Joel Rosario, $17,305,572 (162/1,083); Victor Espinoza, $15,667,413 (88/495); Luis Saez, $12,042,844 (208/1,285); Jose Lezcano, $11,010,740 (130/826); Rafael Bejarano, $10,904,039 (214/985); and Junior Alvarado, $10,866,981 (145/940). 

Zayat Stables won 21 races from 215 starts and earned $10,000,226 in North America in 2015 to lead all owners. Runner-up was Ken and Sarah Ramsey with 135 victories from 654 starts and earnings of $9,359,132. 

Completing the list of top 10 owners by North American earnings in 2015 were Godolphin Racing, $7,983,083 (92 wins/487 starts); Midwest Thoroughbreds, $5,427,367 (217/964); Reddam Racing, $4,702,077 (54/287); Klaravich Stables. and William Lawrence, $4,070, 858 (55/233); John C. Oxley, $3,905,082 (52/264); Stonestreet Stables, $3,658,909 (35/134); David Jacobson, $3,618,566 (81/414); and Repole Stable, $3,305,057 (46/204). 

(When including the results of the Dubai World Cup card from March 28, 2015, at Meydan Racecourse, Sheikh Hamdan was the fourth-leading owner with earnings of $6,210,000.)

The year-end compilations are distributed annually by Equibase and include results from Thoroughbred racing in North America from Jan. 1, 2015, through Dec. 31, 2015. Expanded North American racing leaders' lists that include all trainers, jockeys, owners, and horses are available within Stats Central at equibase.com. These lists include the ability to look at leaders in a variety of categories, including age, sex, surface, graded races, and foaling year for horses.