Zayat Stables Sweeps Owner, Breeder Awards

It's funny how horse racing can put individuals to the test before yielding rewards. Ahmed Zayat's Zayat Stables, which sweeps this year's Eclipse Awards in the outstanding owner and outstanding breeder categories, certainly knows the feeling.

Zayat won plenty of big races from his 2005 arrival in horse racing through 2014, but the sport's biggest prize, the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), seemingly tested the owner by allowing him to come tantalizingly close without joining the club. He watched three of his horses run second in the Louisville classic, Pioneerof the Nile   in 2009, Nehro in 2011, and Bodemeister   (owned in partnership) in 2012. 

But when Zayat finally broke through with American Pharoah  , it proved worth the wait, as he delivered U.S. racing its first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. American Pharoah capped his season with a romping victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), completing the most lucrative season in purse earnings ever for a North American-based horse at $8,288,800.

American Pharoah's record-breaking season lifted Zayat to his first Eclipse Awards in both categories.

Fittingly for the Zayats, the sire of American Pharoah is 2009 Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile. American Pharoah is out of Littleprincessemma, who is named after Zayat's daughter Emma. Zayat purchased Littleprincessemma, by Yankee Gentleman  , for $250,000 at the 2007 Keeneland September yearling sale and campaigned her to two starts without a win before she was retired because of injury.

Beyond American Pharoah's on-track accomplishments, the willingness of Zayat and trainer Bob Baffert to share the Triple Crown winner rewarded current racing enthusiasts and surely brought new fans to the sport. Largely for those efforts, Zayat Stables and the American Pharoah team also were honored with the Big Sport of Turfdom Award by the Turf Publicists of America and the Mr. Fitz Award from the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters Association.

"As the owner and breeder of the winner of the Triple Crown, I feel a huge sense of responsibility that you can be the face of the sport," Zayat said upon being named the Mr. Fitz winner. "It's actually not about the Zayats, not about the Bafferts. It's about American Pharoah and the spirit of American Pharoah."

Toward that end, Ahmed's son and racing manager, Justin, enthusiastically reached out to fans through social media. Justin Zayat shared his story of being a student at New York University while helping his dad run a leading racing stable.

Zayat Stables also sent out two-time grade III winner El Kabeir in 2015 and finished atop the owner earnings list at $10,000,226. Zayat Stables also finished atop the earnings list in 2008. A comparison between those two seasons reveals a change in approach by the owner, who in 2008 had 740 starts and 116 wins compared with 215 starts and 21 wins in 2015.

Zayat Stables' horses earned more money per start, $46,513, than any other single-season, North American leading owner by earnings in the 21st century.

Voter totals in the outstanding breeder category: Zayat Stables, 190; Ken and Sarah Ramsey, 39; Darley, 13; WinStar Farm, 5; Adena Springs, 4; Spendthrift Farm, 1; Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, 1; voter abstentions, 8.

Voter totals in the outstanding owner category: Zayat Stables; 220; Ken and Sarah Ramsey, 26; Midwest Thoroughbreds, 6; Reddam Racing, 2; Godolphin Racing, 1; voter abstentions, 6.