American Pharoah in crosshairs in Arkansas Derby
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – American Pharoah swept into Oaklawn Park last month and seized the Rebel Stakes on the front end despite stumbling at the start. This time around, there could be an uprising.
American Pharoah has returned from his Southern California digs for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby and will meet notable new competition in Far Right and Bridget’s Big Luvy, as well as sharper old foes in Bold Conquest and The Truth Or Else.
But this is hardly news to Bob Baffert, the Hall of Fame trainer three weeks from potentially chasing after a fourth Kentucky Derby win. It’s crunch time for horses in need of eligibility points, and their last big shot comes Saturday in the Arkansas Derby. Their target is American Pharoah.
“I’m sure that he’ll be tested up front because a lot will try to run with him early,” Baffert said. “If they do, we’ll see how he responds to it.”
The Arkansas Derby will dole out Kentucky Derby qualifying points to its first four finishers on a scale of 100-40-20-10. The 1 1/8-mile race, which drew eight, is the richest of the Oaklawn meet that closes Saturday. The 12-race program includes three other stakes, chief among them the Grade 2, $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap. The card can be played online at DRF Bets.
Key contenders
American Pharoah (Last 3 Beyers: 100-101-101)
* The champion 2-year-old male of 2014, he was making his first start since September in the Grade 2, $750,000 Rebel and rolled by 6 1/4 lengths in the slop March 14. Baffert was pleased with how the horse performed and how he’s emerged from his first start at 3.
“I could have easily run him in the Santa Anita Derby last week,” Baffert said. “He bounced out of it. He was much more ready than I thought he was for the first time.”
* American Pharoah, owned by Zayat Stables and to be ridden by Victor Espinoza, has worked twice since the Rebel. His latest move was six furlongs in a bullet 1:11.60 on April 5 at Santa Anita.
“I don’t know what the pace is going to be like,” Baffert said. “We’re prepared for anything. We’ll have Victor comfortable whether [sitting] first, second, or third. I feel really good going in here.”
Madefromlucky (Last 3 Beyers: 89-85-84)
* He was the runner-up in the Rebel, racing behind the controlled fractions set by American Pharoah.
“We’re hoping for a little more pace in this race,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “And we’re hoping that the mile and an eighth, which he’s already won at, will help close the gap a little. We fully expect American Pharoah will be difficult to beat, but this is the plan set out for Madefromlucky.”
* Pletcher said Everett Dobson, working with bloodstock agent Steve Young, bought a majority interest in Madefromlucky following a maiden win in December.
“He broke his maiden nicely going around two turns at Gulfstream,” Pletcher said. “That time of the year, 2-year-olds turning 3 that look like they want to stretch out, with pedigree, those are attractive opportunities.”
* Madefromlucky is by Lookin At Lucky and out of Home From Oz, a full sister to Tapit.
* John Velazquez has the mount on the horse, who also races for Mac Nichol.
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Far Right (Last 3 Beyers: 91-89-83)
* The winner of the $150,000 Smarty Jones and the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn passed on the Rebel with an eye to being fresh for a spring campaign. He will be making his first start since Feb. 22.
“I believe he’s fit,” said trainer Ron Moquett. “One of those sayings is you can only get the glass so full. We’re full.”
* Far Right ran a career-best race in the Southwest, closing up the rail for a three-quarter-length win in the slop.
“I know that’s not his favorite surface, and he slipped around a little bit in that race,” Moquett said of the wet track. “You got to see not necessarily his talent but, because of the conditions, his heart and his will to win. He had to fight and overcome a surface that wasn’t to his liking.”
* Mike Smith has the mount.
Bold Conquest (Last 3 Beyers: 85-85-70)
* Third in the Rebel, he’s been working forwardly at Oaklawn.
“He’s trained extremely well,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “It’s obvious. To have success, he’s going to have to be faster than he’s ever been, and I do think that he’s aimed in that direction. He’s definitely a horse that I feel has benefited from the weather clearing up and just having a fast track to train on. You can just see him being capable of doing more. We expect a big race from him. Where a big race from him right now puts him in this field will be interesting.”
Mr. Z (Last 3 Beyers: 64-90-85)
* His status was being discussed early in the week, but trainer D. Wayne Lukas confirmed Thursday that he will run..