American Pharoah Stakes looking like a rematch

The Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 27 is likely to be a rematch between the first three finishers of the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, the two runners who failed to complete the race, and two other prominent members of the division who were not in the Del Mar Futurity.

The $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes, California’s leading prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1, is run at 1 1/16 miles.

Sunday, trainer Peter Miller wrote in a text message that Nucky and Wrecking Crew, the first two finishers of the $301,053 Del Mar Futurity on Sept. 2 are bound for the American Pharoah. Doug O’Neill said he is planning to start Defense Wins, who was third in the Del Mar Futurity.

Eight Rings and Storm the Court, who were involved in a bumping incident in the first furlong that led to their riders being unseated, are candidates for the American Pharoah, according to their respective trainers, Bob Baffert and Peter Eurton.

Eight Rings was the 1-2 favorite in the Del Mar Futurity. He veered toward the inside rail early in the Del Mar Futurity under jockey Drayden Van Dyke, and bumped with Storm the Court, who unseated jockey Flavien Prat.

Storm the Court returned to the racetrack for daily training last Thursday and was described by Eurton on Sunday as “fine.”

“We got lucky there,” he said of the Del Mar Futurity.

Eurton said he wants to follow Storm the Court’s progress in coming weeks before fully committing to the American Pharoah.

“He’s got to work really good for me to do it,” Eurton said. “It’s better than traveling. If he’s doing well, we’ll take a shot. He didn’t really run last time.”

Collusion Illusion, the winner of the Grade 2 Best Pal Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 10, and American Theorem, a sharp maiden race winner on Aug. 31, are expected in the American Pharoah.

Collusion Illusion was held out of the Del Mar Futurity by trainer Mark Glatt to prepare the colt for the American Pharoah. Saturday at Santa Anita, Collusion Illusion worked five furlongs in 1:00, which Glatt described as “very good.”

American Theorem, who is by American Pharoah, won his debut at 5 1/2 furlongs by 1 1/2 lengths for trainer George Papaprodromou.