FRONT RUNNER STAKES

(GRADE 1)

ZAYAT Stables’ American Pharoah captured his second Grade 1 victory with an easy win in the one-mile, half a furlong $300,000 Front Runner Stakes last Satruday at Santa Anita Park.

Ridden by Victor Espinoza for trainer Bob Baffert, American Pharoah, who won the Grade I Del Mar Futurity to break his maiden in his second start, won by daylight over Calculator, who was also second last time.

American Pharoah, now two-for-three, is by the leading young sire, Pioneerof the Nile and gained an automatic berth in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on November 1st over the same track at Santa Anita Park.

Favoured at 1/2 in a field of eight two-year-olds, American Pharoah led all the way in the Front Runner while tracked by Skyway. American Pharoah, never threatened, cruised past the one-mile mark and was never in doubt, winning by three and a quarter lengths over Calculator with Texas Red further back in third.

“All the way he was on a high cruising speed,” Espinoza said. “He has such a long stride. He moves really nice and is light on his feet. When (Calculator) got close to me, I encouraged my horse a little. He’s young so I want to teach him that when he hits the stretch it’s time to go. I did, and he moved three or four lengths in front. He’s one of the best two-year-olds right now.”

“I can’t believe how he has changed since his first outing,” Baffert said. “He’s so professional. He’s really mentally there. It showed in the way he worked the other day. (Jockey Joe) Steiner worked him, and I asked him if he has worked a horse like this in a while. He used to work all my horses. He said it reminded him of the good old days.

“The horse just has that extra ‘something.’ What a performance,” Baffert said. “You’re always hoping for that but you never know.’’