American Pharoah Drills for BC Juvenile
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Zayat Stables' American Pharoah, impressive winner of the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) and Frontrunner Stakes (gr. I), worked five furlongs in 1:00 at Santa Anita Park Oct. 14 in preparation for the Nov. 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I).
"He galloped out (six furlongs) in 1:12 4/5 and was just cruising," trainer Bob Baffert said.
American Pharoah stamped himself as a major 2-year-old this season, winning the Del Mar Futurity on the front end by 4 3/4 lengths in only his second career start. He previously had finished fifth as the 7-5 favorite in his career debut.
Stretching out to two turns for the first time following the Del Mar Futurity, the son of Pioneerof the Nile again went to the front in the 1 1/16-mile Frontunner and drew off to a 3 1/4-length score under Victor Espinoza.
American Pharoah, bred by the Zayats out of the Yankee Gentleman mare Littleprincessemma, was run through the Taylor Made consignment at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga select yearling sale in 2013, but was bought back by his breeders when David Ingordo signed the ticket on their behalf for $300,000.
American Pharoah's main competition in the Juvenile should come from the Todd Pletcher pair of Daredevil, winner of the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park, and Carpe Diem, winner of the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland.