KENTUCKY DERBY

(Grade 1)

AHMED Zayat’s Derby dreams finally came true when his hotly favoured homebred, American Pharoah, won the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby by a length at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday of May.

American Pharoah, is the first two-year-old champion to win the Derby since Street Sense in 2007.

Zayat Stable’s dreams of Derby victory have been shattered three times with three runners, all of whom finished second. Pioneerof the Nile, Nehro, and most lately with Bodemeister in 2012.

Their perseverance has been rewarded when American Pharoah, a son of their 2009 runner-up Pioneerof The Nile got the job done under the Twin Spires last Saturday.

“I knew that, if he had the lead, nobody would catch him,” described Egyptian born Zayat. “He has such a brilliant speed. I start getting really, really nervous. And my wife started crying. Like, literally, in seconds, that emotion went from somebody who is crying out of fear that they’re going to take it again from us to actually having done it. Tears of joy. It was like a euphoria of emotions. I still cannot believe it. I don’t even know who finished second or third!”

Coming from just off the pace and travelling wide around the final turn, the bay colt by Zayat Stable’s 2009 Kentucky Derby runner-up, Pioneerof The Nile, bravely outfought Firing Line and a pacesetting Dortmund to win North America’s most coveted prize.

American Pharoah covered the 10 furlongs in 1m 03.02secs, covering 29 feet (about 3.4 lengths) more than Firing Line and 69 feet (about 8.1 lengths) more than Dortmund according to the on-site Trakus system.

Dortmund, with Martin Garcia up, went to the front but was challenged early by Firing Line. As they passed the stands for the first time, Dortmund led the first half mile pressed by Simon Callaghan’s Firing Line.

Tracking wide was American Pharoah, while WinStar Farm and Stonestreet’s Carpe Diem was tucked in along the rail under John Velazquez.

After six furlongs, American Pharoah went up to challenge the two leaders, and in early stretch it was a three-horse race.

Firing Line, with Gary Stevens up, got the better of Dortmund but had to contend with American Pharoah who was charging on the outside, to best a drifting Firing Line by one length at the finish.

The win was a fourth for Bob Baffert, who also finished third with Kaleem Shah’s very talented, previously unbeaten and second favourite, Dortmund.

Baffert won his first Derby in 1997 with Silver Charm and then in 1998 with Real Quiet. He added his third in 2002 with War Emblem.

Baffert moved into a three-way tie for second with four Derby wins along with fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas and ‘Derby’ Dick Thompson. Ben Jones holds the record with five.

“Those names are legends,” said Baffert. “And to be in this position, you know, I never think about stuff like that... Victor and I, we have a lot of history going back. And he won that Derby (on War Emblem). And to win this Derby, this is for the Zayats who have suffered so much running these seconds, since Bodemeister and Pioneerof the Nile. So we know what it is to just get completely punched right in the face.

“This year we were ready to rumble,” Baffert added.

Lucky Mexican

Espinoza, who was aboard California Chrome last year and War Emblem in 2002, became the seventh jockey to win three Kentucky Derbys. He’s also the sixth jockey to win back-to-back Derbys, joining Calvin Borel, Ron Turcotte, Eddie Delahoussaye, Jimmy Winkfield, and Isaac Murphy. “I feel like the luckiest Mexican on earth. He has been a special horse since the first time I rode him. He has a lot of talent and is an unbelievable horse.

“Turning for home I started riding a little bit harder. At the eighth pole I just couldn’t put that other horse (Firing Line) away, but he got it done. It’s all about confidence,” Espinoza said. “And with Bob Baffert, he gives you that confidence.”

In an extremely competitive field of 18, first three home were followed by Godolphin’s Frosted, Danzig Moon, Materiality, Keen Ice, Mick de Kock’s Mubtaahij finished 8th, Carpe Diem 10th, Upstart was tailed off. Stanford, El Kabeir, and International Star were scratched. Trainer Todd Pletcher had three runners in the Derby: Materiality winner previously undefeated in all three starts, $1.6 million two-year-old purchase Carpe Diem, and Itsaknockout.

“Carpe Diem got a good trip but he may not have handled the track as he came off the bridle at the half mile pole and I couldn’t make much of an excuse for him. Materiality ran very well. He missed the break as he stumbled a little bit, pulled his shoe off.”

American Pharoah was the champion two-year-old male of 2014 despite not having run in the Breeders’ Cup.

Running fifth on debut at Del Mar, the Pioneerof The Nile colt broke his maiden in the seven-furlong Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity next time out in September last year. He followed that Grade 1 FrontRunner Stakes later the same month at Santa Anita.

Missing the Breeders’ Cup with an injury, American Pharoah returned in form as a three-year-old in the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 14th, winning in wet conditions by an impressive six and a quarter lengths. A feat he bested when stepping up a grade, winning the $1 million Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by eight lengths in his final Kentucky Derby preparation. He has now won five of six career starts and has earning of just over $2.8million.

For Arnold Zetcher’s runner-up Firing Line it was “disappointing” to trainer Simon Callaghan. “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. We tried all the way; tough beat.”

Firing Line is riddled with Irish connections. Consigned as a weanling to Keeneland November by Irishmen Pat Costello and Garbriel Dunigan’s Paramount Sales, he was sold for $65,000 before being brought back in as a yearling in September.

Sold to Pete Bradley for $150,000 the Line Of David colt was sent to Florida-based Irishman Eddie Woods for breezing. It was at the 2014 Keeneland April Sale of two-year-olds where talented and up and coming bloodstock agent Ben McElroy, first recognised his potential and purchased Firing Line for owner Arnold Zetcher and trainer Simon Callaghan for $240,000.

American Pharoah is out of the Yankee Gentleman mare Littleprincessemma. Although the mare was bred by Brereton C. Jones (who owns Grade I Kentucky Oaks winner Lovely Maria), she was pinhooked by once again, Ben McElroy and his longterm friend, Kentucky-based Irishman Peter O’Callaghan of Woods Edge Farm.

A common partnership, together they bought Littleprincessemma from Airdrie Stud for $135,000, returning her the following year to 2007 Keeneland September, receiving $250,000 for their efforts from Zayat Stables.

Although reportedly very talented, she only made two starts for Zayat Stables and trainer Steve Asmussen before retiring to breeding after injury.

American Pharoah is the second foal of four foals out of Littleprincessemma, who sold for $2.1 million at Fasig Tipton November in 2014. She has since delivered a full-sister to the Derby winner earlier this year.