Shoeless Pharoah reigns in the Rebel
HOT SPRINGS — American Pharoah bobbled at the start and then was flawless en route to a 61/ 4- length victory in the Grade II $750,000 Rebel Stakes on Saturday at Oaklawn Park.
His connections, however, said they had plenty of reasons for concern.
Not only had American Pharoah, the 2014 2-yearold male champion, not raced since September, but he had never raced on a wet track and never outside of California.
On top of those obstacles, he banged his right foot into the gate at the start and his shoe was knocked partially off.
None of it mattered. American Pharoah, ridden by Victor Espinoza and trained by Bob Baffert, led through every call and pulled away from runner-up Made from lucky. Bold Conquest finished another 21/ 2 lengths back in third in the field of seven on the sloppy track.
“It was easy,” Espinoza said of the son of Pioneer of the Nile. “Believe me, it was easy. He’s a tremendous horse. He has a lot of talent, and he loves to run. It’s very nice to have a horse like American Pharoah.”
America Pharoah, the 2-5 favorite, led by a 11/2 lengths through a quarter in 24.41 seconds and by 1 length after a half-mile in 49.63. He still led by 1 length over a wall of contenders
composed of Madefromlucky, Bold Conquest and Paid Admission through 6 furlongs in 1:15.22.
Then, American Pharoah began to pull away with ease, running the fourth quarter in 24.54 seconds and hitting the mile mark in 1:39.76.
“We were a little bit concerned since he hadn’t run in so long, but not much,” Espinoza said. “But Bob Baffert had a lot of confidence in him, and when Bob has a lot of confidence, then so do I.”
There was a tight race behind American Pharoah, who earned 50 Road to the Derby points and $450,000 for owner Ahmed Zayat with the victory.
Madefromlucky ended up second, good for 20 points in the standings that help determine the starters for the Kentucky Derby.
Bold Conquest, who finished 1¼ lengths ahead of fourth-place finisher The Truth or Else, received 10 points. The Truth or Else picked up 5.
“I had a nice trip,” Bold Conquest jockey Ricardo Santana said. “I thought I had some horse under me, but Baffert’s horse just kicked away from us. My horse ran well and gave me a great effort.”
Heavy rain fell 30 minutes before the start, turning a track that had been rated good back to sloppy.
Rain tapered to mist as American Pharoah, covered in a navy blue blanket, was led from the backstretch to the track. Twice American Pharoah stopped before he reached the paddock. It appeared as if he were posing for pictures taken by fans along the rail with cell phones in the estimated crowd of 30,000. American Pharoah paused several times as he walked in counterclockwise loops around the paddock in front of patrons packed six deep on the edge.
American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat stood in the grandstand almost immediately above the paddock. He said he was a bundle of nerves. His son Justin Zayat stood beside him. Justin said his father was always nervous before races, particularly ones in which his horses were heavy favorites.
“I was freaking out,” Ahmed Zayat said. “Justin was about to give me some downers. I never like running when the track is wet. I don’t like running in the mud, and the more we waited, the worse is got. But we were comfortable, Bob was comfortable with the track. He’s the trainer, and if he tells me he’s comfortable, then I’m comfortable.”
Fortunately, Zayat was unaware of the shoe trouble as American Pharoah left the gate.
“He gets so nervous all the time,” Justin Zayat said. “Of course we all get excited. When we’re 1-5 on the board, you feel like you have to win. We want to bring back a champion. It’s unbelievable, but I just try to tell my dad that’s it out of our control, that it is what it is.”
Baffert, who has won five the past six runnings of the Rebel, said he never worries about American Pharoah’s owner.
“He knows the up and downs of this game,” Baffert said by phone from California. “He understands we have to keep our feet on the ground.”
Baffart said Espinoza told him that American Pharoah moved an instant before the field broke from the gate, and that his shoe became dislodged.
“His shoe wasn’t on right and when he can run like that all the way around, it shows how good he is,” Baffert said.
Baffert said an appearance in the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn on April 11 is a possibility for American Pharoah, who has won 3 of 4 starts and $811,500, but nothing has been decided.
“There’s a good chance,” Baffert said. “We won’t know where we’ll go until we get him back here, but I don’t see why not.”