American Pharoah is Champion 2-Year-Old Male
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There's a certain level of confidence when a trainer pitches a 2-year-old that finished fifth in his debut into a grade I race next time out. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert had that confidence in Zayat Stables' homebred American Pharoah after he acted up in the post parade and "was really a mess."
After taking the blinkers off American Pharoah and giving him plenty of schooling, the bay ridgling backed up his trainer's belief in him by winning the seven-furlong Del Mar Futurity (gr. I) by 4 3/4 lengths. The exciting youngster continued to the two-turn FrontRunner Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park and dusted those rivals by 3 1/4 lengths in wire-to-wire fashion.
Although he was on the sidelines for the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) due to a foot bruise, his two electrifying wins propelled him to the championship over fellow finalists Texas Red and Hootenanny. In the FrontRunner, Texas Red finished third, 4 3/4 lengths behind American Pharoah, prior to winning the Juvenile. Calculator, who finished second in the FrontRunner, has since won the Jan. 10 Sham Stakes (gr. III) at Santa Anita, backing up the form of the race.
While American Pharoah is listed as a $300,000 sale yearling at the 2013 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select yearling sale by Taylor Made Sales Agency, agent, Zayat, suffering from seller's remorse, brought his yearling back home.
The champion 2-year-old is a homegrown product for Ahmed Zayat. He not only raced American Pharoah's dam, Littleprincessemma, but also bred and raced American Pharoah's sire, Pioneerof the Nile . Himself a grade I winner at 2, Pioneerof the Nile won Santa Anita's Robert B. Lewis Stakes (gr. II), San Felipe Stakes (gr. II), and Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) in 2009 before running second in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Zayat has also run second in the Derby with Nehro (2011) and Bodemeister (2012). He's yet to come to Kentucky for the first Saturday in May with a champion. It might make a difference later this year.
Voting (Only first-place votes from members of the consolidated voting entities: National Thoroughbred Racing Association, Daily Racing Form, and National Turf Writers and Broadcasters):
American Pharoah, 126; Texas Red, 111; Hootenanny, 16; Carpe Diem, 7; Dortmund, 3; Ocho Ocho Ocho, 2.