American Pharoah works like a favorite

On the morning that pre-entries were due for the Breeders’ Cup, American Pharoah gave every indication that he remains the horse to beat in the $2 million Juvenile with a five-furlong work Monday timed by Santa Anita clockers in 58.60 seconds.

Trainer Bob Baffert said he had American Pharoah alongside the horse Front Range, but the trainer said it was apparent early that Front Range would not keep up.

“He’s still full of energy and willing to work,” Baffert said of American Pharoah. “That other horse was lapped on him a little bit at the start but he could not keep up.”

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American Pharoah is the most accomplished of the 12 or 13 horses that were expected to be pre-entered Monday for the Juvenile, to be run on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita. Though pre-entries were due Monday the fields will not be announced until Wednesday.

American Pharoah, a son of Pioneerof the Nile, is coming off Grade 1 victories in the Del Mar Futurity and the FrontRunner Stakes at Santa Anita.

“We know he’s holding his form really well,” Baffert said. “He looks healthy.”

American Pharoah is owned by Ahmed Zayat, who will also have Mr. Z in the Juvenile. On Monday, at Churchill Downs, Mr. Z worked five furlongs in 1:01.80 for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Mr. Z, a son of Malibu Moon, is coming off a second-place finish behind Carpe Diem in the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland, which followed a fifth-place finish in the Grade 3 Iroquois at Churchill on Sept. 6.

Lukas believes the move from the cooler weather in Saratoga to the hot, humid conditions at Churchill Downs played a role in Mr. Z’s poor race that day.

“We drew a line through that one," Lukas said. "We’re looking forward to the next one."

Lukas plans to ship Mr. Z to Santa Anita next Monday and possibly work the horse over the track on Tuesday.

At Belmont Park in New York on Sunday, trainer Todd Pletcher worked his pair of Juvenile starters, Carpe Diem and Daredevil. Carpe Diem, the Breeders’ Futurity winner, worked a half-mile in 48.41 seconds in company with the stakes-winning colt Blofeld. Carpe Diem galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.79 and six furlongs in 1:14.78.

“He was on the bridle throughout, and galloped out very well" Pletcher said. "I’m happy all the way around. He’s come out of the Breeders’ Futurity in excellent condition.”

Daredevil, winner of the Grade 1 Champagne, worked a half-mile in 48.92 seconds in company with the 3-year-old Divine Oath.

“Effortless breeze,” Pletcher said. “It seemed like he couldn’t have done it any easier or any better.”

Pletcher planned to breeze both horses in New York again on Sunday before shipping on Tuesday.

At Aqueduct on Sunday, Champagne runner-up Upstart worked a mile in 1:43.22 for trainer Rick Violette.

On Sunday at Santa Anita, Lucky Player, the Iroquois winner, worked five furlongs in 59.60 seconds, his fourth work over Santa Anita’s main track. He is trained by Steve Asmussen.