According to Baffert, American Pharoah has displayed very impressive form in recent weeks while working out at his home track in California before being shipped to Kentucky on Tuesday.
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Coral make three European winners the most likely outcome at 13-8, while it is 9-4 that there will be four and 6-1 for five or more.
American Pharoah will face a tough field Saturday that includes nine group I/grade I winners, led by Beholder, who seeks to become the all-time Breeders’ Cup earnings leader. The Breeders Cup Classic will be American Pharoah’s final race.
Triple Crown winning jockey Victor Espinoza shares a laugh before…
In the days leading up to that race, Baffert had talked about trying to find a reason not to run him at the Spa.
American Pharoah will travel to Keeneland on Tuesday after his final pre-race work at Santa Anita Park on Monday morning – 46.6 seconds for a half mile with Martin Garcia aboard. “We were looking for 47 or 48, but when he came back in 46… he did it easy”. Trainer Richard Mandella could have taken the easy route as she would have been the heavy favorite for the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff, but here she is taking on the boys.
Gaines’ son Thomas says one of his father’s distinctive gifts was dealing with politics within the industry in order to get the Cup going.
With Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens on board, Beholder will start the Classic from the 10 hole as a 3-1 choice.
Conceived and founded by prominent thoroughbred breeders in Lexington, Ky., the well-traveled thoroughbred racing’s World Championships has made many stops in New York, Southern California and nearby Louisville, Ky., along with side trips to South Florida, Canada, New Jersey and Texas, but never played in its own backyard.
Beholder has won 15 of 20 career starts and is 5-for-5 this year.
The Filly and Mare Turf and the Mile look more appealing betting races. “It’s a long run to the first turn”. “He’s been such a terrific horse to us, it’s really emotional. I will be confident with him”.
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“Forever I’ll be in debt for how he changed all our lives, hopefully for the better”, Zayat said.
