American Pharoah Easy Winner of FrontRunner

Zayat Stables' American Pharoah captured his second grade I victory with an easy win in the $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park .

Ridden by Victor Espinoza for trainer Bob Baffert, American Pharoah, who won the grade I Del Mar Futurity to break his maiden in his second start, won by open lengths over Calculator, who was also second last time. The clocking for 1 1/16 miles on a fast track was 1:44.95.

American Pharoah, now 2-for-3, is by Pioneerof the Nile   and was bred by his owner in Kentucky. He gets an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

Favored at 1-2 in a field of eight sophomores, American Pharoah led all the way in the FrontRunner through fractions of :23.09 for the opening quarter-mile, a comfortable :47.27 for a half-mile, and 1:11.84 for six furlongs while tracked by Skyway. American Pharoah, never threatened, passed the one-mile mark in 1:35.77 and never was in doubt.

He won by 3 1/4 lengths over Calculator, who had 1 1/2 lengths over Texas Red in third. Lord Nelson, also trained by Baffert, finished fourth, followed by Daddy D T, Skyway, Conquest Panthera, and Sky Preacher.

American Pharoah paid $3, $2.40, and $2.20 across the board. Calculator returned $6.60 and $4, while Texas Red paid $4.20. The $1 exacta paid $6.60 and the $1 trifecta returned $48.70.

"All the way he was on a high cruising speed," Espinoza said. "He has such a long stride. He moves really nice and is light on his feet. When (Calculator) got close to me, I encouraged my horse a little. He's a young so I want to teach him that when he hits the stretch it's time to go. I did, and he moved three or four lengths in front. He's one of the best 2-year-olds right now."

"I can't believe his demeanor, how he has changed since his first out," Baffert said. "He's so professional. He's really mentally there. It showed in the way he worked the other day (a :59 3/5 five-furlong drill Sept. 21). (Jockey Joe) Steiner worked him, and I asked him if he has worked a horse like this in a while. He used to work all my horses. He said it reminded him of the good old days."

American Pharoah had a perplexing debut, finishing fifth in a madien special weight at Del Mar Aug. 9 before bouncing back with his stellar win in the Futurity.

"The horse just has that extra 'something.' What a performance," Baffert said. "You're always hoping for that but you never know what it's going to be. I was in shock after his first out and it's a lot of work by the entire team, and it really showed today."