Pharoah fights for Kentucky Derby win
TRAINER: BOB BAFFERT SCORES FOURTH DERBY WIN WITH AMERICAN PHAROAH
Sights now set on Triple Crown victory.
Let the Triple Crown talk begin. The favourite American Pharoah, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Victor Espinoza, overcame a determined rival in Firing Line to win the 141st Kentucky Derby in front of a record crowd of 170,513 at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Despite going wide on both turns in the $2 million contest, the much touted son of Pioneer Of The Nile was driven home to score by a length to give Baffert his fourth winner of America’s most celebrated race.
Baffert, also responsible for third-placed Dortmund, was equalling the mark of the legendary D Wayne Lukas, who suggested before the race that American Pharoah could be the horse to end a notorious Triple Crown drought dating back to Affirmed in 1978.
“We were ready to rumble,” said Baffert, whose previous winners were Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002). “I kept reading about how good the horse is and I kept thinking I just hope they’re right!”
They certainly were. The first three horses home were in the front rank throughout, although it was American Pharaoh’s stablemate, the Santa Anita Derby victor Dortmund, who set a sensible even pace from his old rival Firing Line, representing Simon Callaghan.
Sent off a 5-2 chance, American Pharoah sat just off the pace-setters in third, running three paths wide outside Carpe Diem as jockey Victor Espinoza took the overland route from a wide draw in gate No 18, although it was really No 15 after the scratchings.
As they exited the far turn and 9-1 shot Firing Line threw down his challenge to second favourite Dortmund, Espinoza got to work and American Pharoah forced his way to the head of affairs three wide. Firing Line would not give up but his rival finished more strongly to get home for his Egyptian owner-breeder Ahmed Zayat, who had seen his silks finish second three times in the past.
Californian-based horses took each of the first three spots; Godolphin’s Frosted stayed on well from the rear to take fourth, while UAE Derby winner Mubtaahij was a respectable eighth, never seen with a challenge after racing in mid-division under Christophe Soumillon. Final time was an unspectacular 2m03.02s.
Espinoza won his third Kentucky Derby after War Emblem and last year’s winner California Chrome. “I feel like the luckiest Mexican on Earth,” he said. “He’s been a special horse since the first day I rode him. He’s tremendous - he’s got a lot of talent and he just flows over the track.
“Turning for home I thought I’d got it but I had to ride him a bit - that other horse, Firing Line, was right by him.”
American Pharoah, who was America’s champion two-yearold last term, has won five of his six career starts, four of them at Grade 1 level. He has not been beaten since his career debut at Del Mar last August.
Simon Callaghan had mixed feelings after watching Firing Line put up a bold performance in second and said: “It is disappointing, for sure. But on the other hand I’m very proud of how well my horse ran. Gary [Stevens] rode a great race, he had him in the right spot. I didn’t expect him to be as close as he was, but we tried all the way."
Ladbrokes now has American Pharoah at 4-5 to win the Preakness, 4-1 win the Triple Crown and 4-1 win the Breeders’ Cup Classic. –