FrontRunner a distance test for American Pharoah

ARCADIA, Calif. - American Pharoah went from a fifth-place finish in a maiden race in his debut in early August to the winner’s circle of the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity in his second start on Sept. 3.

The next leap is equally as significant, a start in Saturday’s $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita. The Grade 1 FrontRunner can confirm American Pharoah’s status as a top 2-year-old, and move him closer to a potential start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.

Typical of a promising 2-year-old, the distance is the biggest question, trainer Bob Baffert said on Sunday.

“I think this race will be good for him,” Baffert said. “It’s a good two-turn workout and a good prep. I’m happy going into the race.”

Baffert expressed those thoughts at Santa Anita after watching American Pharoah and Lord Nelson work five furlongs in tandem in 59.60 seconds. American Pharoah races for Zayat Stables.

Lord Nelson, a probably starter in the FrontRunner, has not raced since winning a maiden race at Del Mar on July 19. Baffert considered Lord Nelson a candidate for the Del Mar Futurity, but pulled the colt from the race, saying he was unhappy with the way he was training on the synthetic track there.

“He looks like a two-turn horse,” Baffert said of Lord Nelson.

The FrontRunner should have a large field. The candidates include Calculator, Conquest Panthera, Daddy D T, Madiba, Red Button, Reflected Star, Sky Preacher, Skyway, and Texas Red.

Red Button, sixth in the Del Mar Futurity, worked a quick five furlongs in 59.20 seconds on Sunday for trainer Mark Glatt.

Saturday’s program has five Grade 1 races each worth $300,000 that are part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering fees-paid berths to Breeders’ Cup races on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1.

The Chandelier Stakes for 2-year-old fillies over 1 1/16 miles is prep for the BC Juvenile Fillies. The probable starters are Conquest Eclipse, Dad’s Princess, Danette, Madam Aamoura, Majestic Presence, Manahatta, and Maybellene.

Her Emmynency, second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante on Aug. 30, is likely to run in the $100,000 Surfer Girl Stakes on turf on Oct. 5.

Shared Belief, the undefeated star 3-year-old, will be a heavy favorite in the Awesome Again Stakes over 1 1/8 miles, prep for the BC Classic on Nov. 1.

Sunday, three of his expected rivals had workouts.

Imperative, winner of the Charles Town Classic in West Virginia in April, worked five furlongs in 1:00. Kent Desormeaux was aboard Imperative, who worked alone.

“I liked the last part” of the workout, trainer George Papaprodromou said. “He asked him, he responded, and that’s good.”

In his last start, Imperative was third behind Shared Belief in the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 24. Majestic Harbor was sixth in that race, having won the Gold Cup at Santa Anita in June.

Saturday, Majestic Harbor worked five furlongs in 1:00.40. Trainer Sean McCarthy timed Majestic Harbor in 1:00.60, galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.20. McCarthy said he is dismissing the Pacific Classic, thinking the synthetic track may have cost Majestic Harbor.

“We’ll draw a line through that and move on,” he said.

Fed Biz, winner of the San Diego Handicap in July, worked six furlongs in 1:11.60. Trained by Baffert, Fed Biz was second in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes over seven furlongs on Aug. 24. Baffert said that Fed Biz has performed well on Santa Anita’s new dirt track.

“He likes the dirt,” Baffert said.