Pharoah rules Derby
The 5-2 favorite lives up to his hype by pulling away down the stretch
“He’s a freak. He showed it today.” Martin Garcia, Dortmund’s jockey on American Pharoah
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s rare for a horse to be anointed the most gifted in his 2-year-old crop and cling to that distinction all the way through a win in the Kentucky Derby.
Which is another way of saying American Pharoah is a rare horse. His effortless stride has long stirred the passions of the most cynical trackside observers, who’ve compared the muscular colt to Seattle Slew.
On Saturday, he officially made good on his promise, beating the most talented field of 3-year-olds in recent memory to win the 141st running of the Derby.
In a thrilling run down the stretch, American Pharoah held off game runner-up Firing Line and stablemate Dortmund to win the $2.18 million race before a record announced crowd of 170,513 at Churchill Downs.
“He’s a freak,” said Dortmund’s jockey, Martin Garcia, who had ridden American Pharoah in workouts. “He showed it today.”
The brilliant bay colt, who went off as a 5-2 favorite, gave trainer Bob Baffert his fourth Derby title and first since 2002. He paid off the sizable investments of Egyptianborn owner Ahmed Zayat, who had watched three of his horses finish second at the Derby since 2009. One of those runners-up was American Pharoah’s sire, Pioneerof the Nile.
“No more seconds!” Zayat yelped merrily after the race. His son, Justin, said the wild emotions inspired by the finish caused him to throw up.
For jockey Victor Espinoza, the Derby win was his second in a row and third overall. “It never gets old,” Espinoza said. “American Pharoah, he’s just an awesome horse.”
As the racing word’s attention turns to the May 16 Preakness and a possible first Triple Crown winner since 1978, recall that Espinoza’s previous two Derby winners — War Emblem in 2002 and California Chrome last year — both won at Pimlico Race Course before faltering in the Belmont Stakes.
Espinoza had said all week that as good as California Chrome was, he felt more confident aboard American Pharoah. He spoke in almost mystical terms about the horse’s potential, which he felt he hadn’t yet neared.
American Pharoah has that sort of effect on people who’ve been around racing their whole lives, inspiring them to rhapsodize about his potential to become the next superhorse. That talk will only get louder from here.
The favorite paid $7.80 on a $2 bet to win, $5.80 to place and $4.20 to show. Firing Line, a 9-1 choice, finished second ($8.40, $5.40). Dortmund, the 4-1 second choice, finished third ($4.20).
The story all week was Baffert’s remarkable duo of American Pharoah and undefeated Dortmund. Common wisdom held that no horse in the field could keep up with American Pharoah one on one. But many handicappers suggested the massive Dortmund might be tougher and better equipped to deal with the traffic created by an 18-horse field.
For all his talent, American Pharoah looked like no sure thing last summer when he finished fifth in his first career start. He seemed so rattled on race day that Baffert’s assistant, Pascual Rivera, labeled the colt “pendejo,” which translates as idiot.
But a month of tweaking by Baffert’s team turned American Pharoah into a sweet-tempered speed de- mon who ran away from the competition in four subsequent prep races. The only question coming into the Derby was how he might handle a sturdy challenge from one of his talented rivals.
He answered emphatically.
The race set up perfectly for the favorite, with Dortmund jumping to the front and Espinoza steering American Pharoah from his outside post to run a few lengths off the lead, where he’s most comfortable. Firing Line ran between Baff- ert’s horses as the trio controlled the entire 11⁄ 4- mile race.
Baffert said he didn’t offer much tactical advice to Espinoza. “You just ride the horse,” he recalled saying before the race.
The potential for controversy entered down the stretch, when American Pharoah drifted into a slight collision with Firing Line.
Firing Line’s Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens said he briefly contemplated protesting as he galloped out after the race but decided the bump wasn’t decisive.
The sight of the three great California-based horses battling to the finish had racing lovers dreaming of a rematch, either in the Preakness or the Belmont Stakes.
“I don’t think anyone can beat those three, especially the winner,” Garcia said.
Baffert, who’ll seek a sixth Preakness victory, said he’s looking forward to a fun two weeks. “That’s one of my favorite races,” he said of the second leg of the Triple Crown. “We’re just going to enjoy it.”