Louisville, KY (SportsNetwork.com) – The “Road to the Kentucky Derby”
stakes schedule has been completed with the running of Saturday’s Arkansas
Derby at Oaklawn Park.
Champion colt American Pharoah recorded a most impressive eight-length victory
in the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby and earned 100 points to move into fourth-
place with 160 points on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.
“He’s the best horse I’ve ever owned,” said Ahmed Zayat, who also owns El
Kabier and Mr. Z.
American Pharoah, trained by Bob Baffert, is scheduled to ship to Churchill
Downs on Monday to prepare for the $2 million Run for the Roses on Saturday,
May 2.
“We were hoping he could do something like that and he showed it today,”
Baffert said following his second Arkansas Derby victory. “We”re so excited
about him.”
American Pharoah, who is ridden by Victor Espinoza, previously won Oaklawn’s
Rebel Stakes by 6 1/4 lengths.
“The way this horse runs is unbelievable,” Espinoza said.
The leaderboard is topped by Louisiana Derby winner International Star with
171 points followed by Baffert-trainee Dortmund, winner of the Santa Anita
Derby, with 170 points.
Carpe Diem, the Blue Grass Stakes champ, is third with 164, four points ahead
of American Pharoah. The leaderboard is completed by Wood Memorial winner
Frosted (113), Florida Derby winner Materiality (100), UAE Derby champ
Mubtaahij (100), El Kabeir (95), Upstart (76), Far Right (62), Itsaknockout
(60), Firing Line (58), Danzig Moon (45), War Story (44), Tencendur (41), One
Lucky Dane (40), Stanford (40), Mr. Z (34), Ocho Ocho Ocho (30), Bolo (30) and
Madefromlucky (30).
