American Pharoah captures Kentucky Derby crown
Zayat Stables had been unlucky in winning the Kentucky Derby. After sending out three Derby runner-ups, Pioneerof the Nile, Nehro and Bodemeister, the Zayat family finally captured that elusive, most-coveted prize when American Pharoah swept to the lead of the 2015 Kentucky Derby field in deep stretch to win the Run for the Roses in its 141st edition.
With last year’s Derby winning jockey Victor Espinoza in the irons, American Pharoah got off to a good start from gate 15. Though breaking from one of the widest posts, the duo was able to move up into 3rd in about the 3 to 4 path. Dortmund was out sharpest of all from gate 7 and went out to set the pace after expected pacesetter Materiality broke a step slowly and had his opportunity to get out front snatched from him before he even had a chance to grab it. Firing Line and Carpe Diem were also right in the mix, moving up to establish the 2nd and 4th running positions respectively.
With such a moderate pace, there was a crush on the front-end as horses jockeyed for position. Despite some traffic issues, Bolo was able to settle in fifth with Danzig Moon in sixth. Mr. Z, Ocho Ocho Ocho and Tencendur were right behind them with Upstart three wide and running in tenth. Then came Mubtaahij, Itsaknockout, Materiality, Frosted and War Story. Keen Ice and Frammento were near the back of the field, and Far Right was content to trail the field in last.
With no pace pressure, Dortmund sailed through easy splits of :23.24, :47.34 and 1:11.29 for the first three-quarters of the race. Firing Line and American Pharoah continued to contentedly race just to his outside and behind him. Carpe Diem stayed in 4th along the rail and was followed by Danzig Moon, Bolo, Ocho Ocho Ocho, Mubtaahij, Mr. Z, Upstart, Tencendur and Itsaknockout.
Wheeling out of the far turn, Firing Line and American Pharoah both made their moves, with the Arkansas Derby winner swinging much wider coming out of the turn than was necessary. The Sunland Derby winner collared Dortmund in the far turn to take the lead, but American Pharoah was just too much to handle. At the top of the stretch the Zayat color bearer seized the lead and continued on for home, repelling the re-rally of Firing Line inside the final furlong. At the wire, American Pharoah had looked his stubborn foe in the eye and pulled away, the winner by a length.
American Pharoah stopped the clock in 2:03.02 for the 1 ¼ mile race and was given a 105 Beyer Speed Figure. The final time is better than it looks as the main track at Churchill Downs slowed continuously throughout the day. Jockey Victor Espinoza enjoyed his second straight Kentucky Derby victory as the pilot of both American Pharoah and last year’s winner California Chrome. “I feel like the luckiest Mexican on Earth,” he exclaimed post-race. “He has been a special horse since the first time I rode him. He has a lot of talent and is an unbelievable horse. Turning for home I started riding a little harder. At the eighth pole, I just couldn’t put that other horse (Firing Line) away, but he got it done.”
Firing Line continued on strongly for second, finishing up the race just as he had started it. Jockey Gary Stevens explained, “Going into that first turn, he was pulling hard. I looked over and saw that Martin’s horse (Dortmund) was pulling just as hard as mine. I eased back off him a little bit and gave both horses some breathing room. He (Firing Line) was aggressive today. He was on it. Coming for home I thought I might get there, but it wasn’t to be. My horse showed his braveness today. He just got beat. I’m very proud of him.”
Dortmund held third after setting the pace. Martin Garcia, who had the call aboard the previously undefeated colt, had nothing negative to say about his mount or their trip. “He’s a really good horse and he ran like it today,” he said. “He always comes to run; that’s the kind of horse he is. He got beat today by really good horses. That can happen.”
Frosted closed well from the back of the field to complete the superfecta. Danzig Moon finished fifth, Materiality ran sixth despite a slow start and being forced to come from off the pace and Keen Ice, Mubjaahij, Itsaknockout, Carpe Diem, Frammento, Bolo, Mr. Z, Ocho Ocho Ocho, Far Right, War Story, Tencendur and Upstart completed the order of finish.
Stanford (#11) was scratched on Thursday after trainer Todd Pletcher had a chance to consult with owners Stonestreet Stables, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith. The Louisiana Derby runner-up was entered initially to see how he would draw and then withdrawn in favor of either the Preakness Stakes in two weeks or the Peter Pan Stakes on Belmont Day. The defection of Stanford allowed also eligible Frammento to draw in. El Kabier (#7) was the next scratch, officially being withdrawn after the also eligible draw in cut off time. The colt, whose name means “Boss” in Arabic, was found to have the beginnings of either a quarter crack or an abscess on Friday morning. Because he was scratched so late in the day, it did not allow Tale of Verve (#22) to draw in. International Star (#12) became the final defection at the 11th hour on Saturday morning. Like El Kabier, the Fair Grounds prep series sweeper was found to have the beginnings of a quarter crack and did not pass the morning’s vet examination.
As the 5-2 favorite, American Pharoah paid backers $7.80/$5.80/$4.20. Nine-to-one shot Firing Line returned $8.40/$5.40, and second choice Dortmund, sent off at 4-1, returned $4.20 for the show. The $2 exacta paid $72.60, the $2 trifecta returned $202.00 and the $0.10 superfecta was worth $63.41.
Bob Baffert, trainer for both winner American Pharoah and third place finisher Dortmund, felt confident going into today’s big race and had his confidence rewarded in a big way. “We were ready to rumble,” he stated. “Since their last works I was hearing how good they were and I was hoping it would come true. I felt confident going in.”
Simon Callaghan, trainer of Firing Line, did not get the outcome hoped for but still had plenty to be proud of. “It is disappointing, for sure,” he lamented. “But on the other hand I’m very proud of how well my horse ran. Gary (Stevens) rode a great race, he had him in the right spot. We just got beat. I didn’t expect him to be as close as he was, but I knew Gary had him right. We tried all the way. Tough beat.”
Tenth place finisher Carpe Diem had been expected to run better than his end result as the winner of both the Blue Grass Stakes and the Tampa Bay Derby. Trainer Todd Pletcher offered up no excuses for the colt. “He got a good trip but he may not have handled the track as he came off the bridle at the half mile pole and couldn’t make much of an excuse for him,” the trainer said. Jockey John Velazquez had nothing further to offer either, simply stating that Carpe Diem did not have it today and that starting from the rail did not hinder them in any way.
By 2009 Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile and out of the Yankee Gentleman mare Littleprincessemma, American Pharoah is a homebred for owner Zayat Stables, who also owned and campaigned Pioneerof the Nile. With the Kentucky Derby now to his credit, American Pharoah has lost just once in 6 career starts, that loss coming in his debut. The $1,200,000 winner’s share of the Derby purse brought “Pharoah’s” total earnings up to $2,611,500.
Though he ran 5th in his career debut, American Pharoah quickly showed that he was going to be a promising Derby prospect for the Zayats, breaking his maiden in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in his second start. He then added the Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes to his résumé. The colt would likely have been the heavy favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but he was found to be off in his left front hoof just days prior to the World Championship races. That injury kept him sidelined until March 14 when he won the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes. He then stamped himself as the Derby favorite with a runaway victory in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, extending his pre-Derby win streak to 4, the same as his sire Pioneerof the Nile’s streak back in 2009.
Despite missing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, American Pharoah’s juvenile campaign was strong enough that he was still named the Eclipse Champion 2-Year Old Male. In winning the Run for the Roses, he became just the second colt since Street Sense in 2007 to be named the Juvenile Champion and then go on to win the Kentucky Derby. Barring no unforeseen bad circumstances, American Pharoah will continue on to the Preakness Stakes and continue his bid for racing’s first Triple Crown since 1978. There he will meet up again with stablemate Dortmund, as Baffert has confirmed that his two big stars will compete for the Black-Eyed Susans.