Tag: American Pharoah

Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba, seen here during a June 25 workout at Santa Anita Park, is headed to next's week's Grade 1 Haskell Stakes. He reunited with trainer Bob Baffert last week. (Image: Ernie Belmonte)

Baffert Enjoys Reunion With Taiba, Sending Him to Haskell Stakes

- 3 min read

Trainer Bob Baffert reunited with one of his star sophomores, Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba, this week and the reunion went so well that Baffert will send Taiba to next Saturday’s Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park. “I hadn’t seen him in a long time. I’m happy with the […]

Hot Rod Charlie hit the board in his last five races: two wins, a second and two thirds. Four of those came in graded stakes races, making him a legitimate Belmont Stakes threat. (Image: Benoit Photo)

Back to Being a Real Test: Breaking Down the 2021 Belmont Stakes

- 9 min read

The 153rd Belmont Stakes wraps up an unpredictable 2021 Triple Crown season with what should be the best race of the three for horseplayers. If 12/1 Medina Spirit winning the Kentucky Derby was a shock to the handicapper’s system, what was 11/1 Rombauer winning the Preakness Stakes? Two horses considered […]

When Stablemates Clash in the Triple Crown

When Stablemates Clash in the Triple Crown

- 4 min read

You’re a Hall of Fame trainer bringing talented stablemates into the Preakness Stakes. You’re balancing the dynamics of caring and feeding different owners and their oft-demanding needs. But you’re also balancing the needs, strategies, and dynamics of your horses. You’re Bob Baffert, who brings Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit and […]

Victor Espinoza and American Pharoah bid farewell after winning their final race: the 2015 Breedres' Cup Classic at Keeneland. The first Triple Crown winner in 37 years was a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection. (Image: Diane Bondareff/Invision for Longines)

American Pharoah, Todd Pletcher Earn Hall Nods in First Year of Eligibility

- 4 min read

Voters to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame confirmed two of the easiest selections they’ll ever face when they selected Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher to the 2021 Hall of Fame class. American Pharoah and Pletcher earned election in the contemporary […]

Concert Tour and sizzling rider Joel Rosario come into the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby unbeaten in three races, including this 4 3/4-length victory in last month's Rebel Stakes. (Image: Coady Photography)

Get Your Concert Tour Tickets for This Arkansas Derby

- 4 min read

For reasons ranging from handicapping to running style to history, the Arkansas Derby is the perfect last stop on the Kentucky Derby Trail. You could dial up a better finishing prep race. But you’d second-guess yourself mid-thought and wind up back at Oaklawn Park. Yes, Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby […]

As one of North America's top sires, Uncle Mo mated with 257 mares in 2020. Under a new rule by The Jockey Club, Uncle Mo's last 117 foals would not be registered as Thoroughbreds. (Image: Coolmore America)

Three Powerful Breeding Farms Sue The Jockey Club Over Stallion Cap

- 4 min read

Three of Kentucky’s most powerful breeding farms filed suit in US District Court on Tuesday, seeking to end The Jockey Club’s stallion cap rule that limits stallions born in 2020 or later to 140 mares a year. The plaintiffs, Spendthrift Farm, Ashford Stud, and Three Chimneys Farm, also listed two […]

Expo Gold, in foal to multiple Grade 1 winner Catholic Boy, sold for $950,000. She is better known as the dam of Preakness Stakes champion Swiss Skydiver. (Image: Keeneland)

Keeneland November Sale Brings Stability, Slight Dip to Sales Market

- 4 min read

One of the biggest horse sales in North America, the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, ended its 10-day run Wednesday with a modest, COVID-19-related drop in sales from 2019. At the same time, nine horses sold for at least $1 million each. The Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale is one […]

Improbable was nothing short of awesome in the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes. The 5/2 favorite rides into the Breeders' Cup Classic on a three-race win streak. (Image: Alex Evers)

Breeders’ Cup Classic: Picking a Winner in this All-Star Field is a Puzzle

- 4 min read

If you’re grasping to understand how good the field is for this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic truly is, it’s easiest to picture what an All-Star horse race would look like. The Mid-fall Classic, as it were. If the Mid-fall Classic offered a $6 million purse, two Triple Crown race winners, […]

Uncle Mo, the standout 12-year-old stallion, bucked the trend of stud-fee reduction. Coolmore American increased his fee, while lowering most of its roster for 2021. (Image: Coolmore America)

Coolmore Lowers Stud Fees on Triple Crown Winners AP and Justify

- 2 min read

Following breeding farm trends in this depressed economic climate, Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud lowered its fees on the majority of its roster, including Triple Crown winners American Pharoah and Justify. American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown champion, will stand for $100,000. That’s a 42.8% reduction from his $175,000 fee in […]

Spielberg was a breeder's box-office smash, selling for $1 million a year ago at Keeneland. He strives for his first victory in Saturday's American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park. (Image: Keeneland)

Favored Spielberg Shoots for Winning Close-Up in American Pharoah

- 4 min read

Could this be Spielberg’s long-awaited Oscar moment? Is Saturday’s Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park the race where Spielberg finds box-office – or winner’s circle – gold? The $1 million juvenile comes into his third race as the 3/1 morning line favorite in this eclectic, but well-bred, […]

Yes, the bloodline is strong in this one. Cafe Pharoah, the son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, qualified for the Kentucky Derby. (Image: Yuki Shimono)

Like Father, Like Son? Cafe Pharoah Qualifies for Kentucky Derby

- 3 min read

There could be another Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. Café Pharoah, a son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, captured the Group 3 Unicorn Stakes in Japan, securing enough points on Japan’s Road to the Kentucky Derby to earn a spot – should his connections claim it. […]