American Pharoah’s final race, the Breeders’ Cup Classic, was supposed to be the test that measures how great a horse he may be. He has already earned a place in history by sweeping the Triple Crown, dominating a 3-year-old crop of average quality.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The rain was gone, but the remnants of nearly three days of precipitation remained at Keeneland on Thursday, with the main track sloppy and sealed when the course opened at 6:15 a.m. and only slightly better after being harrowed during the renovation break.

The great final acts in sports are unpredictable. Ted Williams could have doubled off the wall in his last time at bat. Instead, he hit one in the seats. Johnny Longden was going to retire at age 59 no matter what happened in his last ride. Then he won the San Juan Capistrano by a nose. And when Michael Jordan played his final game with the Bulls in 1998, you figured they’d give him the ball, but he didn’t have to sink the game winner against the Jazz that gave Chicago the NBA crown. Nice shot.

American Pharoah was bred and is owned by Ahmed Zayat, whose son Justin, manages the family’s stable. His trainer is Bob Baffert, who is assisted by Jim Barnes. His regular jockey is Victor Espinoza. Jockey Martin Garcia, who rode American Pharoah in his first start, has been his regular rider for workouts. Jorge Alvarez is his exercise rider, and Eduardo “Lalo” Luna is his groom.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – From the time Beholder arrived here at Keeneland more than a week ago with a temperature one degree above normal, trainer Richard Mandella kept checking and rechecking her health, drawing blood, scoping her lungs after her work and gallops. He was looking for something, anything, but hoping not to find anything.

Through Wednesday, all was fine. Her most-recent blood work had come back perfect, and she was training great.

And then came Thursday.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – While his connections clearly wish no rain had fallen at Keeneland this week, Golden Horn won’t be taken out of Saturday’s $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf, provided there’s no further significant precipitation before the race, trainer John Gosden said Thursday.

So, what Beyer Speed Figure is it going to take to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic? If the race is run like it should be, with American Pharoah blitzing to the front, opening up a big lead, and setting very quick fractions, I think we could be looking at a 115.

Tonalist, Honor Code, and Smooth Roller have earned Beyers of 111 or more. American Pharoah has not, but anybody who watched the Haskell knows he could have done it that day.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – American Pharoah’s racing career began in California, his preps toward the Kentucky Derby began in Arkansas, and he has raced at eight tracks in six states in three time zones, but now, the circle finally is complete. He has returned to Kentucky, the state of his birth, to close out his racing career Saturday in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland before starting a new life as a stallion.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – When Tale of S’avall missed a workout Sunday at Belmont Park due to sore feet, trainer Barclay Tagg held out some hope that he still could make Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile if things turned around quickly during the week in Kentucky.

Breeders’ Cup Saturday at Keeneland will, as usual, decide half a dozen year-end divisional championships and tantalize bettors with multimillion-dollar wagering pools. But this year is different. There is no Horse of the Year title on the line because American Pharoah cinched that award back in June, when he became the sport’s first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.