Has American Pharoah already run past his peak? The Triple Crown thoroughbred is the featured attraction at this year's Breeders' Cup World Championships (October 30-31 at Keeneland), causing ticket sales to go through the roof. But American Pharoah will come into Keeneland on a losing note. He finished second to Keen Ice at the Travers Stakes on August 29, breaking a string of eight consecutive victories.
No need to panic. American Pharoah has already qualified for the Breeders' Cup Classic, the main event on the 13-race card at Keeneland, and he's expected to be the runaway favourite when the first odds go up on the board. This will no doubt be the most anticipated Breeders' Cup since the inaugural 1984 event – it's not every day you get to see a Triple Crown winner in action.
American Beauty
American Pharoah qualified for the Classic ($5M, 1-1/4 miles, dirt) by taking down the Haskell Invitational on August 2. That was one of the select races on the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, where winners earn an automatic invitation to the Classic or any of the other 12 races on the card. There are two other ways to join the field: one way is by accumulating enough points in major races throughout the year, and the other way is via selection by an expert panel. Up to 14 horses will be chosen for each race.
At press time, six other horses have qualified to join American Pharoah in the Classic; the first to do so, Noble Bird (Stephen Foster H.), will be unable to participate after injuring his hip at the Whitney Handicap. Here are the other five:
|
Horse |
Qualifying Race |
|
Hard Aces |
Gold Cup at Santa Anita |
|
Honor Code |
The Whitney |
|
Beholder |
Pacific Classic |
|
Smooth Roller |
Awesome Again Stakes |
|
Tonalist |
Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational |
The biggest challenge to American Pharoah could come from Beholder, who already has two Cup victories under her saddle: the 2012 Juvenile Fillies ($2M, 1-1/16 miles, dirt) and the 2013 Distaff ($2M, 1-1/8 miles, dirt). Now a 5-year-old mare, Beholder has won each of her last six races and nine of her last 10, including three straight victories at the Zenyatta Stakes. Beholder can join Zenyatta (2009) as the only female horse to win the Classic.
European Vacation
Of the remaining 12 races at the Breeders' Cup, Saturday's Turf ($3M, 1-1/2 miles) and Mile ($2M, 1 mile, turf) will draw the most attention. Both these turf races will feature the best thoroughbreds from across the pond. Among the horses already qualifying for the Turf is likely pre-race favourite Golden Horn, who won both the Epsom Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe this year. Esoterique is one of three horses to qualify for the Mile at press time, having won the Prix Jacques le Marois in August.
Here's the complete list of races at this year's Breeders' Cup. Race order is subject to change.
Friday Races
|
Race |
Purse |
Length |
|
$1 million |
1 mile |
|
|
$1 million |
1 mile |
|
|
$1 million |
1 mile |
|
|
$2 million |
1-1/8 miles, dirt |
Saturday Races
|
Race |
Purse |
Length |
|
$2 million |
1-1/16 miles, dirt |
|
|
$2 million |
1-3/16 miles |
|
|
$1 million |
7 furlongs, dirt |
|
|
$1 million |
5-1/2 furlongs |
|
|
$2 million |
1-1/16 miles, dirt |
|
|
$3 million |
1-1/2 miles |
|
|
$1.5 million |
6 furlongs, dirt |
|
|
$2 million |
1 mile, turf |
|
|
$5 million |
1-1/4 miles, dirt |
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