American Pharoah Romps in the Rebel

AMERICAN PHAROAH announced his arrival on the 2015 Kentucky Derby trail with an easy 6 1/4 length score in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park.  Making his first start since last September, last year’s Two-Year-Old Champ  turned the 1 1/16 mile contest into a paid workout, never being threatened through soft fractions of :21.41, :49.63, 1:15.22, 1:39.76 and galloping under the wire in 1:45.78.

Madefromlucky edged away by 2 ½ lengths to steal second place from Bold Conquest. The Truth Or Else finished fourth. American Pharoah paid $2.80 for the win.  The exacta was a chalky $8.60 and the $1 trifecta paid $14.40.

American Pharoah’s final time was one of the slowest editions of the Rebel and an eye blink slower than 2013 Rebel hero Will Take Charge (1:45.18). With the Rebel victory tucked securely under his girth, American Pharoah has a total of 60 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

American Pharoah is trained by Bob Baffert for Zayat Stables. The homebred colt is by Pioneerof The Nile, who was trained by Baffert to a second place finish in the 2009 Kentucky Derby out of Littleprincessemma, by Yankee Gentleman. The colt has amassed a 4-3-0-0 ($811,500) race record, including victories in the Del Mar Futurity and Frontrunner Stakes, both Grade 1 races. Baffert has conditioned five of the last six Rebel Stakes winners.

American Pharoah stood out amongst the field of seven colts. Baffert stated, “Victor (Espinoza) said that he moved right before they broke, and then he stumbled leaving the gate opened and pulled the right front shoe (partially) off of him. But once he got into the first turn and into his groove, he was galloping. His right front shoe wasn't on right and when he can run like that all the way around like that, it shows you how good he is.” 

Despite the easy victory, Baffert cautioned, “"I don't think it was that easy for him. The track was very demanding. We learned a lot from this race because he handled it well, he handled the shipping and he handled the off track.”

So where does American Pharoah go from here?  "There is a good chance we might be back for the Arkansas Derby with him. You want to see how he comes back and ho he trains from here. I'm just glad to get this one out of the way. We've got him back. I feel fortunate to have two really top horses in him and Dortmund.”

Sounds like a plan, Bob.

Read American Pharoah’s pedigree profile.