Zayat Stables homebred American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) tracked the early pace during Saturdays 141st running of the Kentucky Derby (G1) and provided a thrilling stretch-long duel with Firing Line (Line of David) and fellow Bob Baffert trainee Dortmund (Big Brown) before prevailing on the wire.
The bay colt, who was honored with an Eclipse Award as the 2014 champion juvenile, finished 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.
A record crowd of 170,513 packed Churchill Downs on a picture-perfect Kentucky day to watch American Pharaoh give jockey Victor Espinoza his third Derby win and second straight. Espinoza guided California Chrome to victory in 2014.
American Pharoah is now 6-5-0-0 in his career and riding a five-race win streak.
MAY 2, 2015
RACE 11
FIRING LINE prompted the pace three wide under rating, came under a ride and engaged DORTMUND three furlongs out, gained a brief lead while between rivals departing the five sixteenths, relinquished command to the determined DORTMUND entering the lane, dug in between rivals dueling to mid stretch, drifted out late under left handed rousing brushing the winner and gave way grudgingly.
DORTMUND established command in the opening sixteenth, set the pace towards the inside, felt initial pressure from FIRING LINE leaving the five eighths pole, got caught up in a spirited duel with that one three furlongs fromhome, remained a solid presence to the final furlong, kept on willingly and doggedly held the show.
FROSTED, a bit rank when rated back leaving the gate, dropped well off the early pace while removed from the inside, angled further out into the track past the three quarter pole, commenced a sweeping five widemove departing the far turn, sustained nicely past the eighth pole and churned on from there.
DANZIG MOON steadied while exchanging bumps with BOLO when in tight between rivals heading towards the first turn, recovered to take closer order two wide, moved out a path and gained under a ride mid way on the finalturn, continued willing pursuit to mid stretch then wilted.
MATERIALITY hesitated at the break to be away last, dropped well off the early pace, lost ground four wide down the backstretch, remained four wide to the head of the lane, angled to the inside of a tiring MR. Z in upper stretch, flashed some interest gaining to mid stretch but failed to seriously sustain.
KEEN ICE dove to the rail in the initial sixteenth and settled far back, moved off the inside down the backstretch, progressed between runners leaving the three eighths pole,was stalled awaiting room from the head of the lane to almost mid stretch, altered out late bumping FRAMMENTO and improved his position with a willing finish.
MUBTAAHIJ (IRE) was rated back from between rivals passing the wire the first time, angled in soon after, hugged the rail pursuing the leaders down the backstretch, was put to strong pressure past the five sixteenths and failed tomake an impact.
ITSAKNOCKOUT was steadied in the jam up under the wire the firsttime, angled out and raced three wide between foes to the half mile marker,shifted out wider for the drive but lacked a rally.
CARPE DIEM raced under a firm hold along rail tracking rivals into the first turn, moved out a path and chased down the backstretch, edged up slightly near the half mile pole, remained in range under a ride into the lane then faded.
FRAMMENTO lagged well off the early pace, made a bit of headway seven wide into the stretch, was bumped byKEEN ICE in deep stretch and failed to threaten.
BOLO was jostled around racing between horses to the first turn, recovered to chase off the inside, remained in range to upper stretch, faded and steadied when in tight late.
MR. Z checked repeatedly off rivals' heels passing the wire the first time, leveled into stride past the seven eighths, was caught four to five wide pursuing the pace,failed to go on leaving the far turn and dropped back.
OCHO OCHO OCHO was taken firmly in hand to rate off the heels of CARPE DIEM heading towards the firstturn, continued towards the inside making a mild run to the three eighths, came out a bit in the drive and gave way through the final three sixteenths.
FAR RIGHT, unhurried early while off the inside, moved out to be very wide for the drive and had little to offer.
WAR STORY steadied when caught in close early on, dropped to the rail and failed to make an impact.
TENCENDUR saved ground chasing the pace and began a retreat after seven furlongs.
UPSTART was four wide around the first turn, stopped after a mile, was eased through the lane and walked off.
The inside gate was left open.
Owners-
1, Zayat Stables LLC; 2, Arnold Zetcher LLC;3, Kaleem Shah Inc;4, Godolphin Racing LLC;5, Oxley John C;6, Alto Racing LLC;7, Donegal Racing;8, Essafinaat Limited;9, Starlight Racing;10, WinStar Farm LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC;11, Mossarosa;12, Golden Pegasus Racing Inc and Mack Earle I;13, Zayat Stables LLC;14, DP Racing LLC;15, LaPenta Robert V and Rosenblum Harry T;16, Loooch Racing Stables Inc Ellis Glenn K and Dunn Christopher T;17, Birsh Philip S;18, Evans Ralph M and WinStar Farm LLC Lessee Trainers- 1, Baffert Bob;2, Callaghan Simon;3, Baffert Bob;4, McLaughlin Kiaran P;5, Casse Mark;6, Pletcher Todd A;7, Romans Dale;8, de Kock Michael F;9, Pletcher Todd A;10, Pletcher Todd A;11, Zito Nicholas P;12, Gaines Carla;13, Lukas D Wayne;14, Cassidy James;15, Moquett Ronald E;16, Amoss Thomas;17, Weaver George;18, Violette Richard A Jr Scratched - El Kabeir, Stanford, International Star, Tale of Verve.