As popular as American Pharoah’s Triple Crown win was, it pales by comparison in importance to some grunt work being done by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, which is trying to modernize tax regulations that impact exotic wagering.
Richard Eng
American Pharoah and his human team have generated plenty of enthusiasm with his Triple Crown victory. That groundswell is an unparalleled opportunity to introduce to a huge generation of newcomers to horse racing.
American Pharoah will be the odds-on favorite when he faces a field of rested horses at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. But bettors should look at Mubtaahij, Materiality and Frosted to upset his Triple Crown dreams.
Did the overconfidence of Spectacular Bid trainer Bud Delp and jockey Ronnie Franklin lead to his near miss at the Belmont in 1979 and the beginning of the current curse? It’s a good bet Bob Baffert and Victor Espinoza won’t make the same mistake with American Pharoah.
Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah is the only horse eligible to win the Triple Crown, thus a laser beam shines on him and trainer Bob Baffert. But no horse has claimed that crown since Affirmed in 1978, and American Pharoah drew a tricky rail post at Pimlico.
After a workmanlike win in the Kentucky Derby, American Pharoah faces a near impossible task in winning the Triple Crown. Trainer Bob Baffert is trying to break a 36-year jinx of no Triple Crown horse since Affirmed in 1978.
Trainer Bob Baffert has two good reasons to feel confident about winning his fourth Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday. They are American Pharoah (5-2) and Dortmund (3-1).
There are so many Kentucky Derby handicapping seminars, and the best part is they’re free. There will be giveaways all over the valley of Derby hats, shirts and glasses. The Run for the Roses will be May 2.
Trainer Bob Baffert has three wins, three seconds and two thirds in 24 Kentucky Derby starts. His Derby winners — Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002) — also won the Preakness, but couldn’t pull off the Triple Crown by winning the Belmont Stakes.
American Pharoah is a heavy favorite to win the last big prep race for the Kentucky Derby. But plenty of other horses need to run well at Oaklawn Park on Saturday if they want to run for the roses at Churchill Downs.
When Keeneland moved the Blue Grass back one week, it set up a true Super Saturday. Three big Kentucky Derby preps will go Saturday: the Blue Grass, Wood Memorial and Santa Anita Derby.
Three more Kentucky Derby prep races — the Florida Derby, Louisiana Derby and the UAE Derby — will be run Saturday.
Kentucky Derby hopefuls will be running in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky., and the Sunland Derby in Sunland Park, N.M., this weekend.
Eclipse Award winners American Pharoah and Untapable make their season debuts Saturday at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark.
Shared Belief beat California Chrome and Hoppertunity in the San Antonio at Santa Anita Park. Shared Belief is the only one of the three to race in Saturday’s $1 million Santa Anita Handicap.