American Pharoah Breeders’ Cup Classic
Triple Crown star American Pharoah won the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland in Kentucky in devastating style on Saturday to cement his legacy as a thoroughbred great.
The bay colt that became the first horse in 37 years to sweep the Kentucky Derby Preakness and Belmont Stakes dominated the 5 million Classic his final race before retirement.
With Victor Espinoza again aboard American Pharoah broke cleanly and quickly seized a lead he would never relinquish.
A 1 1/2-length lead going into the final turn swelled as Espinoza urged him home to a 6 1/2-length victory over Effinex that sent tens of thousands in the stands into a frenzy.
Honor Code was third.
American Pharoah won nine of 11 career starts earning a total of 8650300.
“This was for Pharoah” said trainer Bob Baffert choking up as he had in interview after interview this week at the thought of the prized horse leaving his barn.
“I wanted him to go out the champion that he is.”
American Pharoah was the 12th Triple Crown winner but the first to get a chance to follow his celebrated treble with a Classic win since the Breeders’ Cup had yet to be created when Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 1978.
Owner Ahmed Zayat opted to keep American Pharoah in training after his triumph in the Belmont Stakes and the colt had gone on to win once more and finish second at the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in August.
Despite that defeat his connections believed his legacy was secure regardless of the outcome of the Classic in which American Pharoah took on older more experienced horses for the first time.
Nevertheless they felt it was fitting he went out a winner — one who will now be retired to stand at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
“I am so proud of this horse but I am so relieved” Baffert said. “After his last race I got so down on myself. When he’s right he’s right and you saw what he can do today.
“It’s tough to win a Breeders’ Cup” said Baffert who has won 12. “You’d better come with a good horse. This is the greatest horse I’ll ever see.”
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