American Pharoah compared to Michael Jordan after sizzling
work
“I have been doing this for 35 years,” said private clocker and bloodstock
Last year’s champion two-year-old male, who is likely to be the
“He’s where we want him to be,” Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. “He
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Baffert’s other Derby candidate, unbeaten Dortmund (Big Brown), had his
final Derby work at Santa Anita and arrived at Churchill Downs early Sunday
afternoon.
As he typically does, Baffert watched the workout from the
grandstand side of the track so he could see the colt run down the stretch to
the wire. With Baffert were the colt’s owner Ahmed Zayat and his son, Justin,
the stable’s racing manager. Baffert was worried about the track conditions
because of the rain overnight, but said the surface was in great shape.
Baffert liked what he saw on the track and did not give
Garcia any instructions on the walkie talkie.
“He was just clipping along,” Baffert said. “Usually, I
talk to him, but I just left him alone. He was doing it in hand, but that’s the
way he works. Mr..Zayat was wondering if he was going too fast, but he hasn’t
seen him. That’s how he works in California. He does things really effortlessly.
He galloped out strong, came back and wasn’t blowing. He handled it well.”
Baffert said the toughest task in the week would be
controlling the owner, an enthusiastic, outgoing man who has three Derby
candidates with as many trainers. American Pharoah is the most accomplished of
the trio and has won four straight by a total of 22 3/4 lengths since his
disappointing debut at Del Mar last summer.
“He’s such a nice horse,” Baffert said. “I’m just fortunate that I would
lucky enough that he sent him to me and I have him. I could have drawn the short
stick and gotten another horse. I’m just happy that he’s given me this horse and
has gotten me in this position.”
Baffert has won the Kentucky Derby three times — Silver
Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002) — and drew laughter with
his response to a question about how he would react to a fourth victory.
“It’s been so long I’ve forgotten,” he said. “That’s the past right there. It
was so long ago it doesn’t matter. This horse is totally different than those
other horses. Every horse is different. They have a different personality, a
different style.
“He surprises me every time
Baffert noted that Zayat’s horses have been second in the
“I saw the (Seattle coach) Pete Carroll deal and what he
Zayat said he wanted to look ahead and not spend much time
“I want to focus on the positive, and there’s a lot,” he said. “I’m very
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“His daddy, Pioneerof the Nile ran in the Derby and almost got
it done for us. His mommy, Littleprincessemma, named after my daughter, we raced
her, we loved her. He is totally Zayat blood from A to Z. If you want to be in
the Derby and you want to come with a horse that you feel would have a decent
chance that would be the one. For that, it means a lot for us. It’s a privilege
just to be here. It’s a humbling experience.”
American Pharaoh will be ridden by two-time Derby winner Victor Espinoza.
Rival trainers also commented on the formidable impression made by American
Pharoah.
“I saw him go by at the three-eighths pole and it
looked like he was moving along pretty good,” laughed Norman Casse,
assistant trainer of Danzig Moon (Malibu Moon), who was on the track the same time that
American Pharoah was working.
“There
have been plenty of circumstances in the past when something or another happens
to a standout and somehow they get beat. We were kind of laughing about coming
back watching all the people around (Bob) Baffert this morning. I’d rather have
all those people with us after the race.”
Trainer Tom Amoss was happy with his charge, War Story (Northern Afleet), but
not so much with the prospect of facing American Pharoah.
“The most
disappointing thing this morning was watching how good American Pharoah looked,”
Amoss said.
In other Kentucky Derby news:
Zayat Stables’ El Kabeir (Scat Daddy) was scheduled to leave New York Sunday
“Everything is great here and he is getting ready to ship
Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum’s Mubtaahij (Dubawi) is slated to ship
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A day after posting a half-mile breeze of
Arlington’s Polytrack, the Mike de Kock trainee cantered a lap of the same surface under
Lisa Moncrieff while assistant trainer Trevor Brown did the same aboard Woodford
Reserve Turf Classic (G1) chance Umgiyo (Danehill Dancer).
“They are absolutely bouncing at the moment, we can’t wait
to get down to Louisville and pick it up there,” Brown said Sunday morning. “It’s
all gone according to plan, touch wood, and we are ready to crack on to
Kentucky.”
While three of trainer Todd Pletcher’s Derby runners are already at
Hall of
“Still working on it,” Pletcher said.
The two Derby contenders based at Palm Meadows — Godolphin Racing’s Frosted
Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s International
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Also on Wednesday, DP Racing’s Ocho Ocho Ocho (Street Sense) could turn in a
final pre-Derby breeze.
“Bubble” horse Bold Conquest (Curlin), currently 22nd on the points list, is
set to breeze Monday.
For the full Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks (G1) tracknotes for April 26,
please click
here.
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