American Pharoah had never been tested prior to running in the Kentucky Derby, but when it mattered most the overwhelming favourite dug deep to win the 141st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
American Pharoah held off the sustained challenge of Firing Line by a length, while stablemate Dortmund finished third.
It was the second time trainer Bob Baffert had saddled the first- and third-place finishers, after Indian Charlie finished behind Real Quiet in 1998. It was also the fourth time the trainer had won the Kentucky Derby, with American Pharoah adding to the wins of Silver Charm in 1997 and War Emblem in 2002.
In front of a record crowd of 170,513, winning jockey Victor Espinoza could hardly contain his delight at tasting success for a third time after War Emblem and California Chrome least year.
He follows in the footsteps of Calvin Borel, the last jockey to win back-to-back Derbies courtesy of Super Saver in 2010 and Mine That Bird in 2009.
Before becoming a jockey, Espinoza had been a bus driver in his native Mexico before he saved up and paid his way through jockey school.
“When I was growing up I wanted to be successful and a millionaire, and here I am,” he told NBC. “He has been a special horse since the day I rode him. He just floats on the track and is an unbelievable horse.”
Espinoza, who appeared to strike American Pharoah with excessive frequency in the stretch, added: “Turning for home, I was riding him a little hard. I could not quite blow Firing Line away, but I got it done.”
Baffert and Espinoza had experienced the feeling of winning the Kentucky Derby before, but for owner Ahmed Zayat it was a victory long in coming.
Three times the Egyptian businessman had finished second, with Bodemeister in 2012, Nehro in 2011 and Pioneerof The Nile, American Pharoah’s sire, in 2009. To finally win America’s most coveted racing prize was almost too good.
“This is a dream come true,” Zayat said. “We are beyond blessed.”
Godolphin’s Frosted was fourth for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, while Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa’s Mubtaahij finished eighth, having raced on the rail for much of the contest under Christophe Soumillon.
Mubtaahij became the first Derby runner in a decade to race without Lasix, the anti-bleeding drug, and the UAE Derby winner had to change his diet on entering America from Dubai due to feed regulations.
“So proud of our Mubtaahij,” Diane de Kock, wife of trainer Mike, wrote on Twitter. “He ran so well. Well done to our whole team and Michael on a Great Achievement.”
A head had separated Firing Line and Dortmund both in the Robert B Lewis Stakes in February and the Los Alamitos Futurity in December, and the two went eyeball to eyeball again at the head of the field once the gates opened.
Gary Stevens, the oldest rider of the 18 taking part after International Star was scratched on Saturday night, ceded the lead to Dortmund and Martin Garcia as they went into the back stretch.
American Pharoah was anchored in third by Espinoza around two lengths off the pace, while Soumillon was seven lengths adrift on the inside.
Not much changed until approaching the stretch when Stevens rousted along Firing Line, but Espinoza had brought American Pharoah in a sweeping move on the outside that looked a race winner.
Dortmund had reeled in Firing Line in the Robert B Lewis, but having fought off his old rival, Firing Line had no more to give and was worn down in the final 100 metres for a final time of 2 minutes, 3.02 seconds.
Baffert’s four Derby wins matches that of D Wayne Lukas and Herbert Thompson for second on the all-time list.
“We were ready to rumble,” the trainer said. “We’ve been reading about how good this horse is in the media and I just thought, ‘I hope they’re right!’ I felt really confident going in.”
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
