Cruguet casts his vote for American Pharoah

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Some have compared both of Bob Baffert’s Kentucky Derby hopefuls, American Pharoah and Dortmund, to Seattle Slew, who won the Triple Crown in 1977, 38 years ago.

American Pharoah, some say, moves like Seattle Slew. Dortmund, like Seattle Slew, enters the Derby undefeated.

Jean Cruguet, the man who rode Seattle Slew, said he prefers American Pharoah to Dortmund.

“I guess American Pharoah is the best horse,” Cruguet said Monday morning on the Churchill Downs backside. “I’m not too crazy about Dortmund. American Pharoah, if he gets a clean trip, he should be able to win. He’s the horse they have to beat.”

What has impressed Cruguet about American Pharoah?

“He can break and you can put him where you want,” Cruguet said. “He should be able to lay third and fourth in the clear and go on. He’s the best horse.”

American Pharoah will be ridden by Victor Espinoza, who rode California Chrome to victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness last year. Cruguet was critical of Espinoza’s performance in the Belmont Stakes where California Chrome finished fourth.

“I’m not too crazy about Espinoza,” Cruguet said. “Last year, he should have won the Belmont. Friday night we went to the [pre-Belmont] party and I told the owners ‘You got the best horse, put him on the lead.’ I wanted to tell Espinoza, he said ‘I don’t want to hear nothing.’ He [messed] up; he should have won the Belmont. Down the backside he got trapped by the winner, he had to wait for the winner to go by and go after him. He was the best horse. I’m glad he got beat because he wouldn’t listen to me.”

Cruguet’s concern about Dortmund is his size.

“He’s so big, he don’t get a clean trip,” Cruguet said.

Aside from the Baffert duo, Cruguet said he fancies Frosted, winner of the Wood Memorial.

Cruguet said half of the expected 20 runners don’t belong in the race.

“War Story can’t even go a mile and an eighth, no less a mile and a quarter,” he said. “Firing Line, he doesn’t want to go that far. Thirty years ago, you’d see the Derby have eight or 10 horses. People were proud. They didn’t run just to run. They run so the horse can win. Now, if they get the points they’re forced to run.”