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American Pharoah (nacido el 2 de febrero de 2012) es un caballo de carreras pura sangre que ganó la Triple Corona Americana y el Breeders' Cup Classic en 2015. Fue el 12º ganador de la Triple Corona en la historia, y al ganar las cuatro carreras, se convirtió en el primer caballo en ganar el Grand Slam de carreras de pura sangre. [a] Ganó el Premio Eclipse 2015 al Caballo del Año y el Campeón de tres años 2015. En 2021 fue incluido en el American Racing Hall of Fame. Fue criado y poseído a lo largo de su carrera deportiva por Ahmed Zayat de Zayat Stables, entrenado por Bob Baffert, y montado en la mayoría de sus carreras por Victor Espinoza. Ahora se encuentra en el stud en Ashford Stud en Kentucky.
Después de terminar quinto en su debut en pista a los dos años, American Pharoah ganó sus siguientes dos carreras, el Grado I Del Mar Futurity y el FrontRunner Stakes, cada uno por varios largos. Una lesión lo mantuvo fuera de la Breeders' Cup Juvenile, pero la fuerza de sus dos victorias, sin embargo, resultó en que fuera votado Campeón Americano de Caballos Machos de Dos Años en los Premios Eclipse 2014. Antes de que comenzara la temporada 2015, Zayat había vendido los derechos de cría del potro al Ashford Stud, una división del Coolmore Stud de Irlanda. Retuvo el control sobre el potro y su carrera deportiva, así como un dividendo no revelado sobre los honorarios de los sementales.
American Pharoah comenzó su campaña 2015 con victorias en el Rebel Stakes y Arkansas Derby y ganó el Kentucky Derby 2015 y el Preakness Stakes 2015. Ganó la Triple Corona en una victoria de alambre a cable en el Belmont Stakes 2015, convirtiéndose en el primer ganador de la Triple Corona estadounidense desde Affirmed en 1978 y el 12º en la historia. Su tiempo ganador fue el segundo más rápido para un ganador de la Triple Corona. Luego fue enviado a Monmouth Park y ganó fácilmente el Haskell Invitational el 2 de agosto. [6] Tres semanas después, terminó en segundo lugar en un reñido Travers Stakes en Saratoga Race Course el 29 de agosto de 2015, rompiendo una racha ganadora de ocho carreras. Después de un paro de dos meses, se embarcó a Keeneland para la Breeders' Cup 2015 y corrió en el Breeders' Cup Classic, donde desafió a caballos mayores por primera vez y ganó por 6/<> largos, rompiendo el récord de la pista.
Al final de su año de carreras 2015, American Pharoah se retiró al stud, según el acuerdo entre Zayat y Ashford.
Antecedentes
American Pharoah es un potro de bahía con una estrella débil en la frente y sin otras marcas blancas. [7] Es de la segunda cosecha de potros engendrados por Pioneerof the Nile, que terminó segundo en el Derby de Kentucky 2009. La primera cosecha del semental incluyó al ganador de Holy Bull Stakes, Cairo Prince, y Social Inclusion, quien terminó tercero en el Preakness Stakes 2014. [8] La presa de American Pharoah, Littleprincessemma, fue comprada por Zayat en 2007 por $ 250,000. [9] Corrió pero no ganó ninguna de sus dos salidas en 2008. [10] American Pharoah fue su segundo potro, después del ganador de la carrera Xixixi. [11] [b] Desde su nacimiento, ella había producido dos hermanos más para American Pharoah: una potra nacida en 2014,[12] [c] y un potro, potro en 2015[14] [15] después de que ella vendió -en potro a Pioneerof the Nile- en noviembre de 2014 por $ 2.1 millones. [16]
American Pharoah fue criado en Kentucky por su dueño, Ahmed Zayat, CEO de Zayat Stables, LLC, y nació a las 11 p.m. en el Día de la Marmota, el 2 de febrero de 2012, en Tom VanMeter's Stockplace Farm en Lexington, Kentucky. [17] [18] Cuando tenía unos días de edad, él y Littleprincessemma fueron a la cercana Pretty Run Farm, también propiedad de VanMeter, donde permanecieron durante unos meses. [19] Más tarde, la yegua y el potro fueron trasladados a Vinery, otra granja de Lexington donde se estableció Pioneerof the Nile. Allí, American Pharoah fue destetado a los cinco meses de edad, y se destacó de los otros destetados debido a su conformación y buen temperamento. [20][d]
En enero de 2013, como un año, fue a Taylor Made Farm cerca de Nicholasville, Kentucky, y comenzó a prepararse para una posible venta. [21] En agosto de 2013, American Pharoah fue consignada por la Taylor Made Sales Agency a la venta Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling. Unas semanas antes de la subasta, American Pharoah se golpeó la pierna y tenía un pequeño bulto que era visible para los compradores potenciales en la venta, lo que puede haber desalentado a los postores. [22] Fue comprado oficialmente por el mínimo de $ 300,000 por Ingordo Bloodstock,[18] [23] actuando como agente de Zayat, quien en efecto compró su propio caballo. [24] Zayat había prometido que no vendería el potro prometedor pero no probado por menos de $ 1 millón. [14] [e] Zayat también compró Pioneerof the Nile, el padre de American Pharoah, por $ 290,000 en una subasta anual de 2007. [14]
"Sentimos que tenía brillantez en él", dijo Zayat de American Pharoah, "su comportamiento, su aura, su conformación, la forma en que se movía". [25] Después de la subasta, el caballo fue primero a Florida y comenzó bajo silla de montar en el Centro de Entrenamiento McKathan Brothers cerca de Citra, donde el entrenador J.B. McKathan dijo: "Simplemente hizo todo bien". [20] Una vez que estuvo listo para comenzar el acondicionamiento de la carrera, entró en entrenamiento con el miembro del Salón de la Fama Bob Baffert en la primavera de 2014. [26]
Fue descrito en 2014 como un potro,[24] [27] en lugar de un potro, lo que significa que tenía un testículo no descendido. El catálogo de 2013 para su venta anual de Fasig-Tipton lo incluyó como un "potro", y fue descrito de esa manera nuevamente en 2015. Zayat sostuvo que la designación de "acertijo" fue un error: "siempre fue un potro". [28]
En 2015, Baffert notó el paso suave y distintivamente largo de American Pharoah: "Nunca he tenido un caballo que se mueva o viaje sobre el suelo como él". [29] El caballo también tenía una cola corta durante sus temporadas de dos y tres años, aparentemente fue masticada por otro caballo. Se teoriza que el Sr. Z, un compañero competidor y potro criado por Zayat, puede haber sido el culpable; la pareja se mantuvo junta en Florida como caballos más jóvenes. El entrenador Baffert tenía una teoría más colorida: "Creo que un día estaba en el pasto y había un león de montaña persiguiéndolo, eso era lo más cerca que podía llegar ..."[30]
El comportamiento gentil de American Pharoah también es distintivo, ya que parece aficionado a las personas y, particularmente para un caballo de carreras joven, sorprendentemente tranquilo a su alrededor. Como explicó Baffert, "Los caballos de su calibre no son tan agradables y dulces. Son un poco duros. Si traje al Bayern aquí, no puedes acercarte a él, es demasiado agresivo. [American Pharoah] es tan diferente a cualquier caballo que haya tenido". No siempre estuvo tan tranquilo, descrito inicialmente como "un poco de cabeza", pero Baffert explicó que después de su primera carrera llena de ansiedad, la gente trabajó con él, educándolo en el paddock de la pista durante aproximadamente dos semanas, cuando "de repente se volvió realmente dulce y realmente suave". [31] Dicho esto, el vicepresidente de los Estados Unidos, Mike Pence, alegó que American Pharoah lo había mordido en 2018, después de convertirse en un semental de cría. Sin embargo, un gerente de la compañía de cría American Pharoah negó la acusación. [32]
Nombre
El nombre de American Pharoah está inspirado en el de su padre, Pionero del Nilo, y el padre de su presa, Yankee Gentleman. [33] El nombre del caballo también reconoce el propio origen egipcio-estadounidense de Zayat. [34] La falta de ortografía de "Faraón" es permanente, pero inadvertida. Zayat originalmente afirmó que la ortografía era el resultado de un error del Jockey Club, pero el presidente de la organización declaró: "La solicitud de nombre para el potro American Pharoah 2012 se presentó electrónicamente el 25 de enero de 2014, a través del sitio de registro interactivo del Jockey Club. Dado que el nombre cumplía con todos los criterios para nombrar y estaba disponible, se otorgó exactamente como se deletreó en la solicitud de nombre digital". Zayat más tarde se retractó de su declaración. [35][f]
La esposa de Zayat, Joanne, ofreció otra explicación de los orígenes del nombre a un reportero de noticias local justo antes del Preakness. El hijo de Zayat, Justin, organizó un concurso en las redes sociales en el que los fanáticos podían enviar nombres para el caballo. La entrada ganadora tenía "Faraón" mal escrito, dijo. "Justin cortó y pegó el nombre del correo electrónico [del ganador] y lo envió al Jockey Club". [37] [38] Marsha Baumgartner de Barnett, Missouri, quien presentó la entrada ganadora, le dijo a The New York Times: "No quiero asignar culpas", pero "busqué la ortografía antes de entrar". No obstante, Baumgartner minimizó la controversia, afirmando: "Los caballos no pueden deletrear, de todos modos". [33] En última instancia, Justin Zayat aceptó la responsabilidad del error, declarando: "No me di cuenta en ese momento de que estaba mal escrito [sic] ... La mayoría de los profesores de inglés en el mundo ahora no están contentos conmigo, pero viviré con eso". [39]
Debido al récord ganador de American Pharoah, el Jockey Club ahora ha reservado ambas ortografías para que otro caballo no pueda ser nombrado de manera similar. [33] La manta de la Triple Corona otorgada a American Pharoah después de su victoria en Belmont usó inadvertidamente la ortografía correcta de "faraón", y por lo tanto escribió mal su nombre. [40]
Carrera deportiva
2014: Temporada de dos años
Silks of Zayat Stables, owner of American Pharoah
American Pharoah hizo su debut en pista en una carrera inaugural sobre seis furlongs y medio en la superficie de Polytrack en Del Mar Racetrack el 9 de agosto. Montado por Martín García, comenzó como el favorito 7-5 contra ocho oponentes. Se inquietó antes de la carrera y, después de correr en segundo lugar hasta el tramo, se desvaneció para terminar quinto detrás de Om, Iron Fist, One Lucky Dane y Calculator, más de nueve largos detrás del ganador. [41] Corrió con una capucha intermitente, que parecía desconcertarlo, al igual que la conmoción en el paddock de silla de montar. Baffert abordó sus problemas de ansiedad quitando la capucha y rellenando algodón en las orejas del caballo para las carreras posteriores. [42]
Despite his defeat, American Pharoah was moved up to Grade I class for the Del Mar Futurity over seven furlongs on September 3.[43] He was ridden by Victor Espinoza for the first time and started as the 3.2–1 second favorite behind Best Pal Stakes winner Skyway, with Calculator and Iron Fist also in the field. American Pharoah took the lead from the start and went clear in the straight to win by four and three quarter lengths from Calculator, with a gap of more than eight lengths back to Iron Fist in third.[43] Commenting on the colt's improvement, Baffert said, "We took the blinkers off, put cotton in his ears and schooled him a lot. He trained well, we decided he was ready and we put him in there. Today, he behaved himself and showed what he could do. He did what we thought he'd do the first time."[44]
On September 27, American Pharoah was made the 1–2 favorite for the Grade I FrontRunner Stakes over eight and a half furlongs at Santa Anita Park. As in his previous race, he was immediately sent to the front by Espinoza and stayed there, pulling away from his rivals in the straight to win by three and a quarter lengths over Calculator, with Texas Red a length and a half away in third.[45] After the race, Espinoza explained how the colt moved: "All the way he was on a high cruising speed. He has such a long stride. He moves really nice and is light on his feet." Baffert said, "I can't believe his demeanor, how he has changed since his first out. He's so professional. He's really mentally there."[46]
American Pharoah was scheduled to run in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita on November 1 but was scratched from the race after sustaining a "deep bruise" to his left front foot in a workout on October 27.[47] After this injury, he was fitted with a special horseshoe. His farrier, Wes Champagne, placed a thin sheet of aluminum alloy over a regular racing horseshoe and cut it to match the dimensions of the shoe, leaving the front two-thirds of the hoof sole exposed, but creating a solid plate across the back that covered part of American Pharoah's heels and part of his frog. Champagne varied the design slightly depending on the tracks and races American Pharoah would run, but used the same basic concept throughout the Triple Crown series.[48]
Even though he did not run in the Breeders' Cup, for the 2014 Eclipse Awards, American Pharoah was voted American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse, beating Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Texas Red by 126 votes to 111.[24]
2015: three-year-old season
Five and a half months after his last start, American Pharoah began his second season in the Grade II Rebel Stakes on a sloppy track at Oaklawn Park on March 14. He carried top weight of 119 pounds and started as the 2–5 favorite against six opponents, headed by the Todd Pletcher-trained Madefromlucky. The colt led from the start and drew away in the closing stages to win by six and a quarter lengths. Espinoza called the winner "an amazing horse", while Baffert was satisfied with the run, especially as the colt returned with a twisted shoe which would have hampered his progress.[49] Four weeks later at the same track, American Pharoah started as the odds-on favorite against seven opponents in the Grade I Arkansas Derby. After racing in second place behind outsider Bridget's Big Luvy, he took the lead a quarter of a mile from the finish and steadily increased his advantage to win by eight lengths from Southwest Stakes winner Far Right. Baffert noted, "He's matured substantially. He's a good horse and he keeps moving forward. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but Dortmund is another one who we don't yet know how good he is. We've got a one-two punch and that's a good position to be in."[g] After the race, Ron Moquett, the trainer of runner-up Far Right, described American Pharoah as "a superhorse".[50]
Kentucky Derby
On May 2, American Pharoah started as the 2.9–1 favorite in an eighteen-runner field for the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. His opponents included Dortmund, winner of the Santa Anita Derby; Carpe Diem, who won the Breeders' Futurity Stakes and Blue Grass Stakes; Firing Line, winner of the Sunland Derby; Wood Memorial winner Frosted; Florida Derby winner Materiality; international entry Mubtaahij, who earned his way to Kentucky with a win in the UAE Derby; and Upstart, winner of the Holy Bull Stakes.[51] The crowd surrounding the horse during the walk-over from the barns to the paddock upset American Pharoah, and several grooms were required to keep him under control. He continued to misbehave until he was loaded into the starting gate; his connections and supporters worried that he was using up energy he needed for the race.[42]
Espinoza positioned the colt in third place early in the race as Dortmund took the lead, followed closely by Firing Line. The three remained ahead of the pack throughout the race,[52] and broke clear of their rivals entering the straightaway with American Pharoah making a forward move on the outside. The favorite took the lead entering the final furlong and won by a length from Firing Line and Dortmund in 2:03.02, with Frosted finishing strongly in fourth.[51] Espinoza, who won the race for the third time, said, "I feel like the luckiest Mexican on earth. He has been a special horse since the first time I rode him. He has a lot of talent and is an unbelievable horse. Turning for home I started riding a little bit harder. At the eighth pole I just couldn't put that other horse away, but he got it done."[53] Espinoza's performance attracted some scrutiny as he appeared to have struck the winner 32 times with his whip during the race.[54] In post-race analysis, one of the stewards at Churchill Downs said, "we watched [the race replay] many, many times prior to making it official, and that wasn't anything that got our attention." Baffert said, "He was hitting him on the saddle towel. He doesn't hit that hard." Gary Stevens, rider of second-place Firing Line, commented that he had used his whip heavily as well, stating that the race was "as tough a race as I've been in in 20 years the last eighth of a mile."[55] The Blood-Horse writer Steve Haskin, while condemning whip overuse in general, offered analysis that Espinoza "did a lot of waving with the whip" and may not have actually hit the horse as many times as it seemed.[56] Reflecting on the race, Baffert said that the colt did not bring his "super A-game" to the Derby and that it was the first time American Pharoah had really been tested by other aggressive horses.[57]
Preakness Stakes
American Pharoah led throughout the 2015 Preakness, which was run on a very sloppy track.
Two weeks after winning the Kentucky Derby, American Pharoah entered the second leg of the Triple Crown, the 2015 Preakness Stakes, run over nine and a half furlongs at Pimlico Race Course. Despite an unfavorable inside draw of the number one post position, he was installed as the morning line favorite ahead of Firing Line and Dortmund.[58] No horse had won the Preakness starting from the rail since 1994.[59] Immediately before post time, the weather changed to a heavy downpour with thunder.[60] The last time the Preakness had been run on a sloppy track was in 1983,[61] and American Pharoah was the only horse in the field to have previously faced similar conditions, having won the Rebel Stakes running in rain and mud.[62]
American Pharoah had the lead within the first quarter-mile and was challenged by Mr. Z early on, but held the lead on the inside throughout the race. He was challenged by Dortmund and then Divining Rod, but American Pharoah broke from the pack in the homestretch and won by seven lengths, as Tale of Verve made a strong rally to overtake Divining Rod to place. Firing Line slipped badly at the start and was eased in the stretch. The winning time was 1:58.45.[63] Espinoza did not use his whip at all in the Preakness,[64] and stated, "I couldn't see how far I was in front because there was so much water in my eyes."[65] The margin of victory was tied for the sixth-largest in Preakness history.[59] The win by American Pharoah set up an attempt for the Triple Crown for the second straight year.[60] It was also the second straight year that Espinoza had won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and the jockey's third time winning both races.[65][h] For Baffert, it was the fourth time in 19 years that he won the first two Triple Crown races. Of the colt, Baffert said, "He brought his A-game today."[64]
Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown
In the week following the Preakness, the Leverage Agency was named as the exclusive marketing, sponsorship, and licensing agents for the horse. The firm performed similar duties for California Chrome, the winner of the 2014 Derby and Preakness.[67] The agency secured a deal with Monster Energy for an undisclosed sum, rumored to be the largest single-horse advertising sponsorship to date. The deal allowed the "Monster Girls" to be around the horse, and the product's logo to be used on the horse's horse sheets, on Espinoza's shirt collar, and on caps and other gear worn by people around the horse.[68]
The finish of the 2015 Belmont Stakes.
In the runup to the Belmont, Baffert chose to work the horse at Churchill Downs, and transport him late to Belmont Park without a timed workout at the New York track. While several prominent trainers questioned his decision, Baffert said it was more important to keep American Pharoah "happy" on a track he liked, having used a similar strategy with his 2001 Belmont Stakes winner, Point Given. Rival trainers Kiaran McLaughlin and D. Wayne Lukas backed Baffert's strategy; the former said, "I don't think it matters for American Pharoah. He could probably run down a street over broken glass."[29] Appearing unperturbed but curious about a small crowd of well-wishers, American Pharoah arrived at Long Island MacArthur Airport on June 2, having traveled from Louisville, Kentucky, on a customized Boeing 727 dubbed "Air Horse One".[69][70]
Three days before the race, American Pharoah's connections drew the number five post position. Pundits noted it was the same slot from which Seattle Slew had won the 1977 Belmont and the Triple Crown, and that 14 other Belmont winners had started from the position.[71] American Pharoah was the 3–5 morning line favorite in an eight-horse field that included Tale of Verve, as well as five rivals from the Kentucky Derby who had skipped the Preakness, and one horse, Madefromlucky, who had not run either of the previous Triple Crown races, but, like Tonalist the previous year, had instead won the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park.[72] American Pharoah had previously defeated every horse entered, but he was also the only horse to contest all three legs of the Triple Crown and had run four races in the preceding eight weeks.[73]
"This little horse deserves it ... He's a joy to be around."[74]
—Bob Baffert
American Pharoah won the Belmont Stakes on June 6, becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner and the first since 1978, ending a "drought" of 37 years.[75][i] The horse was leaning back in the starting gate when it opened and was a touch late at the start,[76] but he soon pulled out to an early lead, which he maintained for a gate-to-wire win. He steadily increased his lead throughout the race. He was challenged by Materiality until the top of the stretch when Materiality faded, ultimately finishing last, and Frosted held second although starting to fade at the sixteenth pole. Keen Ice ran in the middle of the pack until a late rally brought him into third over Mubtaahij, who was fourth. American Pharoah crossed the finish line leading by 51⁄2+ lengths, with a winning time of 2:26.65 for the 11⁄2+-mile (2,400 m) race.[77] His margin of victory was the fourth-largest ever for a Triple Crown winner at the Belmont.[75]
American Pharoah won the Belmont Stakes to become the 12th winner of the US Triple Crown.
Of the victory, Baffert said, "This little horse deserves it. There's something about this horse that he just brought it every time. He's a joy to be around."[74] In a post-race interview, Zayat said that the colt's racing schedule for the remainder of the year would be decided by Baffert, and that the needs of the horse would come first. He also acknowledged the need for horse racing to have "stars" and for them to race as long as they could. Though American Pharoah's stud rights had been sold with plans to retire the horse at the end of 2015, Zayat expressed hope that the horse would continue racing as long as he was healthy and "has it in him".[78] His winning time of 2:26.65 was the sixth-fastest in Belmont history, the second-fastest for a Triple Crown winner, and his closing quarter-mile was run in 24.32 seconds, which was over a half-second faster than Secretariat's final quarter-mile time of 25.00 when the 1973 winner set a world record and won by 31 lengths.[79]
The following morning, the colt came out of the race tired but in good shape.[80] When Baffert brought American Pharoah out of the Belmont Park barn, he invited the assembled media to come over and pet the horse. "I wanted to share him with everybody and show everybody how kind and sweet he is", said Baffert, while the group of about 30 people touched and even kissed the horse.[31] The horse then posed quietly with Baffert and Espinoza to tape a segment for The Today Show, standing between the two men who were seated in folding director's chairs.[80]
An estimated 22 million U.S. television viewers watched the live Belmont race broadcast.[81] Of 94,237 winning $2 tickets sold at Belmont Park, each with a yield of $3.50 for American Pharoah's first-place finish, some 90,128 remained unredeemed several days after the race, most likely kept as race-day souvenirs or to be offered for sale at a premium by their purchasers.[82]
Haskell Stakes
After the Belmont Stakes, American Pharoah returned to Churchill Downs to rest, beginning to jog on the track the following Friday. On June 13, the day of the Stephen Foster Handicap, American Pharoah was paraded on the track between races. A crowd of 30,000 people showed up to see him as he was hand-walked for about 45 minutes in front of the grandstand and in the paddock. Zayat, Baffert, and Espinoza were also given their permanent keepsake Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown trophies in a ceremony that evening. American Pharoah's popularity was so high that his win made the cover of Sports Illustrated,[83] he was photographed for Vogue,[84] and during the NBA Playoffs, the coach of the Golden State Warriors, Steve Kerr, suggested that American Pharoah was the only athlete better than LeBron James.[83]
American Pharoah's next race was the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, New Jersey on August 2. Zayat wanted the horse's first race back be an easy race against other 3-year-olds, he wanted to race the horse in Zayat's home state of New Jersey, and he wanted to race on a Sunday to avoid a clash with the Jewish Sabbath. Zayat explained, "He can run anywhere ... as long as he's happy and healthy ... I told [Monmouth] ... 'I want to do it for the sport and not worry about the money and stuff."[85] Nonetheless, Monmouth Park raised the purse money for the race from $1 million to $1.75 million.[6] Zayat had previously won the Haskell with Paynter in 2012,[j] and Baffert already held the record for the most Haskell wins, having seven previous victories.[85] Over 60,000 people showed up at Monmouth Park, which featured the Bruce Springsteen song "Born to Run" in the post parade. Viewed as being in even better physical condition than in the Belmont, American Pharoah took the lead in the far turn and easily opened up a five-length lead over the six other horses in the race before Espinoza eased him back as second-place finisher Keen Ice made a strong finishing push. He won the race by 21⁄4+ lengths with a time of 1:47.95 for the 9-furlong distance. Espinoza quipped, "He was having fun, and so was I." Baffert said, "He just keeps bringing it; he's a great horse."[6][86]
Travers Stakes defeat
American Pharoah's next start was the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 29. While Zayat wanted to enter the race, Baffert was reluctant.[87] The race marked the second time in under a month that American Pharoah, training with Baffert in California, had flown across the country, raising concerns that the extensive air travel was taking a toll on the horse.[88] The only previous Triple Crown winner to win the Travers was Whirlaway in 1941, and two others, Gallant Fox and Affirmed, had been defeated there,[89] helping give the track its nickname 'The Graveyard of Champions.'[90][k] In five previous attempts, Baffert had one Travers win with Point Given in 2001.[91] With American Pharoah training well, Baffert stated, "I've been looking for an excuse not to come (to the Travers), and I can't find one."[89]
"He was valiant in defeat."[92]
—Bob Baffert
American Pharoah faced a field of 10 horses, most of whom, including Keen Ice, he had previously defeated.[93] Espinoza had concerns at the starting gate when he noticed that his mount was already sweating, even though the weather was not particularly hot.[94] While the horse led for much of the race, he was hard-pressed throughout by Frosted,[93] a change from Frosted's previous stalking style, attributed to a rider change less than an hour before the race, when Jose Lezcano replaced an injured Joel Rosario, altering the complexion of the race. The unexpected tactics of Lezcano may have been decisive.[95] Espinoza stated that he "knew he was in trouble" by the half-mile pole because American Pharoah did not pull away from his rival and lacked his usual energy. Frosted challenged American Pharoah for the lead at the far turn, and the horses bumped several times,[96] but American Pharoah dug in and fought back when Frosted took a very brief lead.[92] While American Pharoah fended off the challenge from Frosted, Keen Ice was coming up on the outside,[96] also under a new jockey, Javier Castellano. They overtook American Pharoah at the sixteenth pole, going on to defeat him by three-quarters of a length.[93] Once again the Saratoga track lived up to its reputation.[96]
American Pharoah led Frosted for much of the run in the Travers Stakes.
After the race, Espinoza said, "He's OK ... Maybe it was just a little too much for him those three weeks, flying back and forth. He was running pretty comfortable there, but not like he used to."[97] Baffert was proud of the horse's fighting effort, stating "It was just guts."[96] Though Zayat talked of retiring the horse, Baffert said, "We knew we were doing the impossible, shipping him back and forth."[94] The following day, Baffert said that American Pharoah was healthy and came out of the race in good shape. He said he had no regrets, stating, "I'm glad I brought him. Racing needed something like this. He almost pulled it off." Regarding Zayat's talk of retiring the horse, Baffert said, "Mr. Zayat is a very emotional man. We were all pretty disappointed ... I know (Zayat) will be going back and forth ... He's a sportsman for bringing him up here."[95] Five days later, Zayat announced that the horse would be kept in training with the goal to run in the Breeders' Cup Classic, stating, "I believe there were a combination of factors that prevented American Pharoah from running his absolute best ... I have every confidence that he can run to his best again, and he deserves the chance to do so."[98]
Breeders' Cup Classic
By winning the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on October 31, American Pharoah became the first horse in history to complete the Grand Slam of Thoroughbred racing: The Triple Crown plus the Breeders' Cup Classic.[5][99] He also set a track record with a time of 2:00.07;[100] [l] and breaking the track record by more than five seconds.[102] Challenging older horses such as Tonalist and Honor Code for the first time in his career, as well as previous rivals Keen Ice and Frosted, American Pharoah led from gate-to-wire, challenged only by Effinex, racing at 33–1 odds, who placed 61⁄2+ lengths behind the winner.[103] Although American Pharoah's decisive victory secured a $2.75 million check for his win, Zayat had long insisted his horse continued to race only for the benefit of the sport and the pleasure of fans; "this horse owes us nothing", his son Justin Zayat said on the eve of the race.[104] Joe Drape of The New York Times described American Pharoah's Keeneland win as "sealing his legacy as a horse for the ages".[100]
American Pharoah finished 2015 having set a single season record for race earnings, winning $8,288,800. He broke the previous single season record of $7,563,535 set by Smarty Jones in 2004, and that record had included a $5 million bonus that is no longer awarded.[105] His lifetime career earnings were $8,650,300.[2] His Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 138 was the highest of any American horse since the Racing Post began the system in 1988, topping that of previous U.S. record-holders Ghostzapper and Cigar. Only two horses worldwide had ever achieved higher ratings, Frankel at 143, and Dubai Millennium, with 139, both doing so as more mature four-year-olds.[106] He was rated the number one horse in the world in 2015 by the World's Best Racehorse Rankings.[107]
Awards
At the conclusion of the season, American Pharoah's accomplishments were named the top sports story of the year by the Associated Press.[108] He and his connections also swept most of the horse-racing world's year-end awards. At the 2015 Eclipse Awards, he was the unanimous choice for American Horse of the Year and Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse. His win marked only the second time that an American Horse of the Year had been unanimously selected, the first being John Henry in 1981.[109] He was named the winner of the Secretariat Vox Populi Award,[110] and his Belmont win was declared the NTRA Moment of the Year.[111] His connections were given the Big Sport of Turfdom Award, an honor for people who "enhance coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and racing publicists."[112] In addition, Baffert won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer and Zayat Stables took home the Eclipse awards for Outstanding Owner and Outstanding Breeder.[109] Acknowledging owner Ahmed Zayat's record of philanthropy to Jewish causes, the Jewish Daily Forward in November 2015 named American Pharoah its "plus one" on its annual list of 50 most influential American Jews.[113][114] The major award that the horse did not win was the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year. In spite of being the public's overwhelming favorite, earning 47% of the vote out of eleven candidates in online voting, topping the Kansas City Royals, Usain Bolt, and Novak Djokovic, the editors of the magazine gave the award to Serena Williams.[115][m]
Statistics
Date Age Distance * Race Grade Track Odds Time Field Finish Margin Jockey Trainer Owner Ref
Aug 9, 2014 2 61⁄2+ furlongs Maiden Special Weight Maiden Del Mar 1.40 1:15.75 10 5 (91⁄4+ lengths) Martin Garcia Bob Baffert Zayat Stables [117]
Sep 3, 2014 2 7 furlongs Del Mar Futurity I Del Mar 3.20 1:21.48 9 1 43⁄4+ lengths Victor Espinoza Bob Baffert Zayat Stables [118]
Septiembre 27, 2014 2 81⁄2+ Estadios Apuestas FrontRunner Yo Santa Anita 0.50 1:41.95 10 1 31⁄4+ Longitudes Víctor Espinoza Bob Baffert Establos Zayat [119]
14 de marzo de 2015 3 81⁄2+ Estadios Apuestas rebeldes II Oaklawn 0.40 1:45.78 7 1 61⁄4+ Longitudes Víctor Espinoza Bob Baffert Establos Zayat [120]
Abr 11, 2015 3 9 furlongs Arkansas Derby Yo Oaklawn 0.10 1:48.52 8 1 8 longitudes Víctor Espinoza Bob Baffert Establos Zayat [121]
2 de mayo de 2015 3 10 furlongs Kentucky Derby Yo Churchill Downs 2.90 2:03.02 18 1 1 longitud Víctor Espinoza Bob Baffert Establos Zayat [52]
16 de mayo de 2015 3 91⁄2+ Estadios Estacas Preakness Yo Pimlico 0.90 1:58.46 8 1 7 longitudes Víctor Espinoza Bob Baffert Establos Zayat [63]
Jun 6, 2015 3 12 furlongs Estacas Belmont Yo Parque Belmont 0.75 2:26.65 8 1 51⁄2+ Longitudes Víctor Espinoza Bob Baffert Establos Zayat [77]
Agosto 2, 2015 3 9 furlongs Haskell Invitational Yo Parque Monmouth 0.10 1:47.95 7 1 21⁄4+ Longitudes Víctor Espinoza Bob Baffert Establos Zayat [86]
Agosto 29, 2015 3 10 furlongs Estacas Travers Yo Saratoga 0.35 2:01.57 10 2 (3⁄4 longitudes) Víctor Espinoza Bob Baffert Establos Zayat [93]
Octubre 31, 2015 3 10 furlongs Breeders' Cup Clásico Yo Keeneland 0.70 2:00.07 8 1 61⁄2+ Longitudes Víctor Espinoza Bob Baffert Establos Zayat [103]
* Conversión de distancias de carrera
Estadios Millas Metros
61⁄2+ 13⁄16 1,308
7 7⁄8 1,408
8 1 1,609
81⁄2+ 11⁄16+ 1,710
9 11⁄8+ 1,811
91⁄2+ 13⁄16+ 1,911
10 11⁄4+ 2,012
12 11⁄2+ 2,414
Retiro
El 20 de mayo de 2015, The New York Times informó que Zayat había vendido los derechos de cría de American Pharoah a Ashford Stud, una división del Coolmore Stud de Irlanda, aunque mantuvo el control sobre el potro y su carrera deportiva. [122] Antes del anuncio, las ofertas por los derechos de reproducción de American Pharoah habían superado los $ 20 millones. [123] Después del Belmont, la revista Forbes informó que Zayat había vendido los derechos de reproducción a Ashford a fines de 2014, mucho antes de que comenzara su carrera por la Triple Corona, y que Zayat retuvo el 100% de los derechos de carreras. Forbes continuó estimando que si American Pharoah representara una tarifa de semental de $ 100,000, podría valer $ 50 millones. Estimaciones más conservadoras colocaron su tarifa potencial de semental en $ 75,000 y su valor potencial en alrededor de $ 25 a $ 36 millones. [74] El New York Times dijo que los derechos de reproducción se habían vendido por $ 13.8 millones: $ 9.8 millones con un incentivo adicional de $ 4 millones si American Pharoah ganaba el Belmont Stakes. [124] Zayat retuvo un porcentaje no revelado en la carrera de cría del potro,[125] y explicó que American Pharoah se retiraría de las carreras a fines de 2015. [126]
American Pharoah fue enviado a Ashford Stud el 2 de noviembre de 2015, donde fue alojado en el puesto que una vez ocupó Grand Slam. Era pastoreado cada mañana junto al ganador del Kentucky Derby y Belmont Stakes de 23 años, Thunder Gulch, quien fue elegido por su influencia calmante en el joven y enérgico semental. [127] Ashford Stud estableció su tarifa inicial de semental para 2016 en $ 200,000,[128] la segunda tarifa de semental más alta en los Estados Unidos, detrás de la tarifa de $ 300,000 para Tapit. La tarifa de semental de Sire Pioneerof the Nile de $ 60,000 en 2015 [129] se elevó a $ 125,000 para 2016. [130]
Carrera de sementales
American Pharoah comenzó oficialmente a criar yeguas en febrero de 2016,[130] y fue criada por primera vez con Untouched Talent, una yegua de 11 años propiedad de Coolmore,[131] presa del Bodemeister de Zayat. [132] En los primeros dos meses de su carrera de cría, American Pharoah tuvo alrededor de 80 yeguas en potro después de aproximadamente 100 sesiones de cría. [133][n] En particular, ha conservado su disposición amable incluso como semental reproductor. [133]
El 3 de enero de 2017, el primer potro de American Pharoah nació en Brookdale Farms. Era un potro de la bahía de la yegua Tizway, Kakadu. El potro fue descrito como teniendo la personalidad tranquila pero audaz de su padre. [135] El 15 de enero en Coolmore Stud, la yegua Untouched Talent produjo su primera potra. [136] En marzo, Coolmore anunció que el semental viajaría a Coolmore Australia para la temporada de reproducción en el hemisferio sur, que comienza en julio, y luego regresa a Estados Unidos a finales de año. [137]
La primera cosecha de potros de American Pharoah se vendió bien en las ventas de Fasig-Tipton y Keeneland de noviembre de 2017, incluida una potra destetada que trajo $ 1 millón. Los compradores comentaron que su descendencia en la venta heredó su eficiencia de movimiento. [138]
El 13 de abril de 2019, Monarch of Egypt se convirtió en el primer ganador de American Pharoah, tomando una carrera inaugural en el hipódromo de Naas en Irlanda. El 19 de abril, Maven fue el primer ganador norteamericano de American Pharoah. [139] Maven luego se embarcó a Europa, donde se convirtió en el primer ganador de apuestas para su padre al tomar el Prix du Bois en el hipódromo de Chantilly. [140] American Pharoah engendró tres entradas en la Breeders' Cup 2019,[141] con Four Wheel Drive ganando el Juvenile Turf Sprint. [142] Lil Goil de Harvey se convirtió en su primera ganadora de Grado I cuando ganó el Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes en Keeneland en octubre de 2020,[143] y más tarde ese mes Van Gogh ganó el Critérium International para darle al semental su primer ganador del Grupo 1 en Europa. [144] American Pharoah tuvo un ganador de Grado 1 en Japón el 21 de febrero de 2021, cuando Cafe Pharoah ganó el February Stakes. [145]
En 2022, Coolmore anunció que American Pharoah no viajaría a Australia. [146]
Descendencia notable
c = potro, f = potra, g = gelificación
Parido Nombre Presa Sexo Grandes victorias
2017 A medida que pasa el tiempo Hazte cargo Dama f Estacas Beholder Mile
2017 Café Pharoah Las locuras de María c Apuestas de febrero 2 veces
2017 Harvey's Lil Goil Gloria S f Estacas de la Copa Desafío Queen Elizabeth II
2018 Van Gogh Imaginar c Critérium Internacional
2019 Por encima de la curva Fabuloso f Premio Saint-Alary
2019 Reino Prohibido Solo Louise c Estacas San Vicente, Estacas San Felipe
Legado y honores
En 2016, el presidente de Oaklawn, Charles Cella, encargó al escultor de Filadelfia James Peniston que creara una escultura de bronce de tamaño natural del faraón estadounidense y jinete Victor Espinoza. En preparación para la escultura, Peniston visitó y fotografió el caballo con el permiso del entrenador Bob Baffert. [147] La escultura fue fundida en 2017 en Laran Bronze en las afueras de Filadelfia[148] e instalada el 11 de enero de 2018 en el hipódromo de Oaklawn en Hot Springs, Arkansas. [149] Un periódico escribió: "La estatua a gran escala y a gran escala de James Peniston del faraón americano [es] un duplicado perfecto, hasta sus músculos y venas abultados, del potro de 3 años mientras se llevaba a sí mismo y al jinete Víctor Espinoza en el invierno y la primavera de 2015 hacia la gloria de la Triple Corona". [150]
En 2021, American Pharoah fue incluido en el Salón de la Fama de las Carreras de Caballos de los Estados Unidos. [151]
Pedigrí
El pedigrí de American Pharoah incluye caballos adeptos a las distancias clásicas de carrera por parte de su padre y dotados de velocidad por parte de su madre. [152] Sire Pioneerof the Nile ganó el Derby de Santa Anita y quedó segundo en el Derby de Kentucky 2009, con todas sus victorias en distancias de 11⁄16+ millas o más. Antes de American Pharoah, Pioneerof the Nile había engendrado otros cinco ganadores de carreras de estacas de una milla o más en su relativamente nueva carrera como semental. [152] El entrenador Bob Baffert observó que Pioneerof the Nile también corría con "una zancada grande y larga" y tenía "el mismo movimiento de resorte que American Pharoah, cuya aceleración es bastante notable". También elogió a la pionera de la presa del Nilo, Star of Goshen: "Era una potra extraña, muy, muy rápida". [153] Para Baffert, el linaje de American Pharoah es una fuente de fascinación: "Cada vez que trabajo con él, vuelvo y miro el pedigrí, y digo: ¿Qué está pasando aquí?" [153]
Pionero del padre del Nilo es Empire Maker, que ganó el Belmont Stakes 2003. [154] Esto convierte a American Pharoah en bisnieto de Unbridled, quien ganó el Derby de Kentucky de 1990 y el Breeders' Cup Classic. [152] Lleva líneas a los campeones de Grado I Toussaud y Fappiano, y al potro europeo de dos y tres años mejor calificado de 1983 y 1984, El Gran Señor. También es descendiente de Northern Dancer, Buckpasser,[o] y Mr. Prospector, cuyos descendientes han ganado 43 carreras de la Triple Corona,[123] [p] todas a través de Empire Maker. [154] [157] En última instancia, a través de Unbridled y sus antepasados, la línea de padre de American Pharoah se remonta al Darley Arabian. [158]
Aunque Littleprincessemma, la presa de American Pharoah, es la media hermana de la ganadora de estacas graduadas Storm Wolf,[152] y de Misty Rosette, ganadora del Old Hat Stakes en 2006,[159] su propia carrera de carreras poco distinguida,[10] combinada con el modesto récord de su padre, Yankee Gentleman,[160] [q] amortiguó las expectativas iniciales del público para su segundo potro. [14] Sin embargo, la línea de sangre materna de American Pharoah incluye a Storm Cat, un ganador de Grado I retirado temprano debido a una lesión,[161] Northern Dancer, un ganador de Kentucky Derby y Preakness Stakes,[r] y Terlingua, una yegua de cría célebre, a través de quien es un descendiente de quinta generación de Secretariat. [165] [166] También desciende a través de su presa de Flying Paster, un campeón de Grado I que fue Caballo del Año de California en 1978, y Nativo Exclusivo (padre de Affirmed and Genuine Risk). A través de padre y presa, American Pharoah es un descendiente de quinta y sexta generación de Bold Ruler, así como un descendiente de sexta y séptima generación de Tom Fool, uno de los mejores pura sangre del siglo pasado. [t] Su línea de cola hembra se remonta a The Oldfield Yegua, potro alrededor de 1695. [170]
Figurando prominente y repetidamente en el profundo linaje de American Pharoah está una generación anterior de campeones, incluyendo a Nasrullah,[u] Native Dancer,[v] Nearco,[w] Princequillo,[x] War Admiral[y] y Man o' War. [z]
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