American Pharoah’s a class apart in Arkansas Derby

American Pharoah likely clinched early favoritism for the Kentucky Derby (Coady Photography)

Zayat Stables’ champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) likely wrapped
up favoritism for the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a seemingly effortless tour de
force in Saturday’s $1 million

Arkansas Derby (G1).

As jockey Victor Espinoza sat motionless in the saddle, the 1-10 favorite
coasted past weakening front runner Bridget’s Big Luvy (Tiz Wonderful) on the
far turn and widened his advantage to eight lengths, geared down. The Bob
Baffert trainee crossed the wire unextended, in a final time of 1:48 2/5 for 1
1/8 miles on the fast track.

American Pharoah was issuing a riposte to his undefeated stablemate Dortmund
(Big Brown), who had threatened to usurp Kentucky Derby favoritism when
galloping in last Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby (G1). But after American
Pharoah’s sensational performance at Oaklawn Park, last year’s champion
two-year-old male may have consolidated his position at the top of the market.

In contrast to his habitual pacesetting ways, American Pharoah employed new
stalking tactics this time. When the 38-1 Bridget’s Big Luvy sprinted to the
fore, American Pharoah was content to let him go ahead, and relaxed kindly in
second through fast fractions of :22 3/5 and :45 4/5. The longshot began to come
back to the champ at the six-furlong mark in 1:10 2/5. American Pharoah easily
overtook him, and the race was over. Never asked by Espinoza, American Pharoah
cantered through a mile in 1:35 4/5, won under wraps, and paid $2.20.

American Pharoah first, the rest nowhere (Coady Photography)

American Pharoah has now won four straight since his upset loss on debut.
Following that tiring fifth at Del Mar last summer, he shed his blinkers, and
has yet to be challenged. American Pharoah wired both the Del Mar Futurity (G1)
and FrontRunner (G1), enough to garner a divisional Eclipse Award despite
missing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) through injury.

The bay made a winning return in the March 14 Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn, where he
dislodged his right front shoe but still dominated by 6 1/4 lengths in the slop.
By capturing the Arkansas Derby in another raid on Hot Springs, he boosted his
bankroll to $1,411,500 from his 5-4-0-0 record.

The Kentucky homebred was listed as sold for $300,000 as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton
Saratoga August, but was actually a buyback. He was produced by the Yankee
Gentleman mare Littleprincessemma, herself a half-sister to Grade 3 scorers
Storm Wolf and Misty Rosette, both by Stormin Fever.