American Pharaoh takes the 2015 Kentucky Derby
And the Preakness!
Posted on 05/26/2015 3:48:13 PM PDT by ETL
For the third time in four years, Belmont Park will play host to a Triple Crown hopeful when American Pharoah attempts to add the 147th running of the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 6, the final and most demanding leg of the series, to his victories in the Kentucky Derby and in yesterday's rain-drenched Preakness.
It will mark the 14th time since Affirmed swept all three races in 1978 that a horse has had a chance to join the 11 Triple Crown champions; none have succeeded. Three of those attempts have been by American Pharoah's Hall of Fame trainer, Bob Baffert, who won the first two legs in 1997 with Silver Charm; 1998 with Real Quiet and 2002 with War Emblem. Two previous attempts were also made by jockey Victor Espinoza, who rode California Chrome to a fourth-place finish last year, and was also aboard War Emblem.
On a humid Sunday morning, Baffert stood outside American Pharoah's barn at Pimlico Race Course and reflected on the events that brought him, along with Espinoza, owner Ahmed Zayat and the handsome bay colt, to the brink of racing immortality once again.
"It's hard for me to imagine I'm going through this again," said Baffert, who is sending American Pharoah back to Kentucky on Monday for a light week before he returns to training and comes to New York on June 3, the Wednesday before the Belmont.
"I can't believe this will be the fourth time I'm doing this, and how lucky I've been." He added. "All I can do is rely on my experience going to the next one. I know what to expect; I know how difficult it is ... with a horse like this it makes my job a lot easier. You see the way he moves; he just floats. It's just effortless."
Although American Pharoah looked unbeatable in two races over a sloppy track - the Rebel at Oaklawn Park and the Preakness - Baffert said he was hoping for a fast track at Belmont.
"Like the one Secretariat had," he said jokingly. "I'll take that."
American Pharoah could face as many as eight competitors in the Belmont, the centerpiece of the expanded three-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival featuring 17 stakes races and purses of more than $10 million. Among them are Tale of Verve, who was second in the Preakness, and a gaggle of horses from the Derby who skipped the Preakness including Frosted (4th), Keen Ice (7th), Mumtaahij (8th), and Frammento (11th).
Also awaiting American Pharoah is a trio of contenders from Belmont-based trainer Todd Pletcher: Materiality and Carpe Diem, who were 6th and 10th, respectively in the Derby, and Grade 2 Peter Pan winner Madefromlucky.
"I understand," said Baffert of the fresh competition. "It just shows the respect they have for American Pharoah. It's something you can't control. It will make an exciting race. You have to earn it, just like he earned it in that weather yesterday. I've seen a lot of great horses leave here and [lose] the Belmont - Smarty Jones, Big Brown, Real Quiet, Silver Charm, Funny Cide, I'll Have Another [in 2012] ... you just don't know."
Espinoza can well understand, having lost the Belmont to Tonalist last year and finishing eighth aboard the front-running War Emblem, who lost all chance in the 2002 Belmont when he stumbled coming out of the gate.
"I come this year with a different mind now," said Espinoza. "It's not easy, but American Pharoah, if he can do it, I'm there."
Attendance for the Belmont, which will be supported by nine other stakes, will be limited to 90,000 this year. With more than 90 percent of reserved seating and hospitality sold out, any remaining seats and dining options for Belmont Stakes Day are available for purchase exclusively through Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets are no longer available by calling, emailing or faxing NYRA, or by visiting NYRA's box office.
Print-at-home General Admission Tickets for Belmont Stakes Day are available for purchase while supplies last on Ticketmaster.com.
"The men and women of the New York Racing Association offer our heartfelt congratulations to American Pharoah and his connections, and we look forward to welcoming them to beautiful Belmont Park for the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6; the crown jewel of thoroughbred horse racing's iconic Triple Crown," said Christopher Kay, Chief Executive Officer and President of NYRA.
"American Pharoah's run for horse racing immortality will be the anchor of this year's expanded Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, featuring 17 graded stakes races and more than $10 million in purses. New, post-race concerts led by O.A.R. on Friday, and the GOO GOO DOLLS on Saturday will also complement an expanded array of hospitality options for fans of all ages.
"We encourage our fans to purchase their tickets in advance, and join us at Belmont Park as New York prepares to kick off the summer season."
http://www.brisnet.com/brisnet_promos/BelmontStakes15.pdf
And the Preakness!
Thanks ETL. It should be a good race. Pretty good horses tend to show up as spoilers, in part to enrich the mobsters who have, uh, undue influence on thoroughbred racing. But this is the longest dry spell without a Triple Crown winner, by a long shot. I remember the previous dry spell, and how Canonero II (sp?) lost the third race, and not by a little bit. Of course, Secretariat took care of business the following year. :’)
The Preakness was an amazing finish, the Derby more suspenseful, but the horse has the right jockey to win on the 6th. Great endurance in that horse, and great judgment in that jockey.
Comments from the official Preakness chart:
“AMERICAN PHAROAH was shoved to the lead soon after the break, set the pace removed from the rail, turned back challengers entering the far turn, responded when asked for run in upper stretch, drifted out slightly leaving the eighth pole and eagerly increased his advantage while hand ridden and shown the whip. TALE OF VERVE, well back for the opening five furlongs, had a mild advance along the rail on the far turn, eased out entering the stretch, drifted to the four path under left hand whipping in upper stretch, altered to the inside of DIVINING ROD near the sixteenth pole and rallied. DIVINING ROD, close up three wide the first turn, angled in approaching the five eighths pole, advanced along the rail mid way on the far turn, eased out to the three path turning for home, chased the winner, weakened and drifted out near the sixteenth pole.
DORTMUND rated back soon after the break, angled out to the three path approaching the wire the first time, moved to the inner rail entering the first turn, eased out entering the backstretch, advanced four deep entering the far turn to reach a striking position, came under a ride soon after, remained a presence to upper stretch then faltered.
MR.Z pressed outside the winner the opening quarter mile, allowed that one to open up entering the backstretch, advanced to reach contention three wide between horses entering the far turn, failed to keep pace past the five sixteenths pole, shifted to the inner rail entering the stretch and tired in upper stretch. DANZIG MOON steadied in close quarters along the rail entering the first turn, saved ground around the first turn, failed to be a factor and was three wide turning for home.
FIRING LINE stumbled and splayed his front legs leaving the starting gate, was four deep the first turn, circled the far turn three wide and was eased through the stretch. BODHISATTVA showed some speed, was two wide the first turn, asked for his run entering the backstretch, gave way on the far turn and was eased through the stretch.”
Click “May 16” on the calendar to find the rest of the chart:
http://www.pimlico.com/race-info/charts
Canonero II was the only Derby I ever attended (a couple of days before my 21st birthday). I went down with a couple of buddys born and raised in Kentucky, who I worked with at Great Lakes Steel in Ecorse, Michigan. Great memories and a great day.
GO American Pharaoh!
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.
Not only are they pretty good, they're well rested and 'fresh'. Very tough thing to do these days, win the Triple Crown. Yet in the 70s we had THREE of them: Secretariat(1973), Seattle Slew (1977), and Affirmed (1978). I was fortunate enough to have been working for several different stables at Belmont during the mid-70s.
PLEASE!! I was afraid someone would post a pic of that commie POS here. Lol!
Unfortunate that the horse’s @ss is POTUS.
When I first read it I thought someone was calling 0bama a horse ... yes and I thought that as well.
Having watched all of the races since Canonero II, I observed the following. For the 1.5 mile race the jockey/owner/trainer thought that the horse was invulnerable and pushed the horse too hard for a mile-and-a-half stretch. This jockey should probably hold the horse back until the last quarter-mile or so. All of the horses who had a chance at a Triple Crown faded toward the end of the race.
Thanks, interesting observation. Thanks for the charts and commentary, ETL.
Except for Secretariat (hope I spelled the name right). May be your races are after that.
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