American Pharoah

by Joe Drape

  Hank Forcier is my friend, my lawyer, and one of the few people I have known personally who has hit trifectas at Rockingham Park as well as Churchill Downs. Besides making school drop-offs and Dads’ Night Out far more fun and interesting, Hank helped me when I needed it most and put this deal together. Bob Curran has newspapers in his pedigree and horses in his blood. He kindly and bravely read the initial drafts of the book to make sure I was factually correct and stylistically defensible.

  I am blessed to have good friends here in New York as well as Kansas City and Texas and other random places. You offer wise and not-so-wise advise, but mostly you make me think, laugh, and feel. Thank you.

  I am bountifully blessed by a large, often unruly family of Drapes and Kennedys, which includes in-laws and out-laws, and nieces and nephews. You are not only big fun, but you have shown Jack Drape what the warm embrace of family means.

  I love you all.

  Mary Kennedy, I owe you everything. Jack, you got the best mom ever and, because of you both, I am the luckiest man in the world.

  ALSO BY JOE DRAPE

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  Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen

  To the Swift: Classic Triple Crown Horses and Their Race for Glory

  Black Maestro: The Epic Life of an American Legend

  The Race for the Triple Crown: Horses, High Stakes and Eternal Hope

  In the Hornets’ Nest: Charlotte and Its First Year in the NBA

  APPENDICES

  APPENDIX A

  The Pedigree of American Pharoah

  AMERICAN PHAROAH Bay Colt; foaled 2012

  By PIONEER OF THE NILE (2006). Black-type winner of $1,634,200, CashCall Futurity [G1] (HOL, $400,000), etc. Sire of 3 crops of racing age, 223 foals, 138 starters, 9 black-type winners, 85 winners of 172 races, earning $16,195,735, including champion American Pharoah (Triple Crown, $8,650,300, Breeders’ Cup Classic [G1] (KEE, $2,750,000)-ntr, etc.), Midnight Storm ($562,110, Del Mar Derby [G2] (DMR, $180,000), etc.), Cairo Prince ($562,000, Holy Bull S. [G2] (GP, $240,000), etc.), Jojo Warrior [G2] ($396,231).

  1st dam

  LITTLEPRINCESSEMMA, by Yankee Gentleman. Unplaced in 2 starts. Dam of 3 registered foals, 2 of racing age, 2 to race, 2 winners--

  AMERICAN PHAROAH (c. by Pioneerof the Nile). Champion, see record. Xixixi (r. by Maimonides). 2 wins at 3, placed at 4, 2015, $83,299.

  2nd dam

  EXCLUSIVE ROSETTE, by Ecliptical. 3 wins at 2 and 3, $27,281, Florida Thoroughbred Charities S.-R (OTC, $15,000). Set ncr at Atlantic City, about 5 fur. in :57 1/5. Dam of 10 other foals, 9 to race, 8 winners, including--

  STORM WOLF (c. by Stormin Fever). 3 wins in 5 starts at 3, $147,840, Lazaro Barrera Memorial S. [G2] (HOL, $90,000). Sire.

  MISTY ROSETTE (f. by Stormin Fever). 4 wins in 8 starts at 2 and 3, $184,021, Old Hat S. [G3] (GP, $60,000), Crank It Up S. (MTH, $33,000), Sandpiper S. (TAM, $27,000), 3rd Darley Test S. [G1] (SAR, $25,000), Forward Gal S. [G2] (GP, $16,500). Producer.

  Vintage Red. 2 wins at 3, $73,584. Dam of 5 winners, including--

  Red Raffles (g. by Bold n’ Flashy). 5 wins, 3 to 5, $309,125, in Canada, 2nd Vice Regent S.-R (WO, $25,000), etc. (Total: $290,530).

  3rd dam

  ZETTA JET, by Tri Jet. Dam of 10 foals, 8 to race, all winners, including--

  EXCLUSIVE ROSETTE. Black-type winner, above.

  4th dam

  QUEEN ZETTA, by Crozier. Sister to MIAMI SUN ($277,365, sire), MIA MOOD ($74,815), Miami Game.Dam of 2 other foals to race, including--Plantation Queen. Winner at 2, $11,162. Producer.

  RACE RECORD: At 2, champion 2-year-old colt, 2 wins (Del Mar Futurity [G1] (DMR, $180,000), FrontRunner S. [G1] (SA, $180,000)) in 3 starts; at 3, 2015, Triple Crown, 7 wins (Breeders’ Cup Classic [G1] (KEE, $2,750,000)-ntr, 1 1/4 mi. in 2:00, Kentucky Derby [G1] (CD, $1,418,800), William Hill Haskell Invitational S. [G1] (MTH, $1,100,000), Xpressbet.com Preakness S. [G1] (PIM, $900,000), Belmont S. [G1] (BEL, $800,000), Arkansas Derby [G1] (OP, $600,000), Rebel S. [G2] (OP, $450,000)), once 2nd (Travers S. [G1] (SAR, $270,000)) in 8 starts. Totals: 9 wins, once 2nd in 11 starts. Earned $8,650,300.

  Foaled in Kentucky.

  APPENDIX B

  The official chart for the 2015 Kentucky Derby

  Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (Grade I) Purse: $2,000,000 Guaranteed

  11th Race CHURCHILL DOWNS - Saturday, May 02, 2015

  Stakes Track Condition: Fast

  FOR THREE YEAR OLDS. With an entry fee of $25,000 each and a starting fee of $25,000 each. A minimum $500 jockey mount fee will apply to starters that finish beyond third place. Supplemental nominations may be made upon payment of $200,000 and in accordance with the rules set forth herein. All fees, including supplemental nominations, in excess of $900,000 in the aggregate shall be paid to the winner. Churchill Downs Racetrack (CDRT) shall guarantee a minimum gross purse of $2,000,000 (the “Guaranteed Purse”). The winner shall receive $1,240,000, second place shall receive $400,000, third place shall receive $200,000, fourth place shall receive $100,000 and fifth place shall receive $60,000 from the Guaranteed Purse (the Guaranteed Purse to each place to be divided equally in the event of a dead heat). Starters shall be named through the entry box on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at 10:00 am Eastern Daylight Time (the “Closing”). CDRT, in its sole and absolute discretion, may set the number of starters up to a maximum of twenty (20) and the number of horses that are also-eligible to start up to a maximum of four (4). Colts and Geldings shall each carry a weight of one hundred twenty six (126) pounds; Fillies shall each carry one hundred twenty one (121) pounds. Supplemental Nominees may enter and will be treated equal to any Original Nominee without preference of one over the other. If the number of nominees exceeds the number of available starting positions and also-eligible positions set by CDRT (the “Number of Starting and AE Positions”) at the Closing, these conditions shall be applied to determine which nominees will be allowed to start and which nominees will be designated as also-eligible to start. In the event that more than the Number of Starting and AE Positions pass through the entry box at the Closing, the starters and also-eligible horses shall be determined at the Closing from Original Nominees and Supplemental Nominees if starting and/or also-eligible positions are still available, with preference given to those horses that have accumulated the most points pursuant to the Road to the Kentucky Derby Point System. For purposes of this preference, the Road to the Kentucky Derby Point System shall mean the point values assigned to the first four finishing positions in each race comprising the Road to the Kentucky Derby as published by Churchill Downs Racetrack. Notwithstanding the foregoing, CDRT may, at its sole discretion, allocate one or more starting and/or also-eligible positions or otherwise give preference to winners of a designated race or races provided, however, that any such designated race or races may not include restrictive provisions relative to which a horse may enter such race or races, other than by sex or age. In the event of any ties resulting from the Road to the Kentucky Derby Point System or should additional horses be needed to bring the field to the Number of Starting and AE Positions, the remaining starters and also-eligible horses shall be determined at the Closing with preference given to those horses that have accumulated the highest earnings in non-restricted sweepstakes. For purposes of this preference, a “non-restricted sweepstakes” shall mean those sweepstakes whose conditions contain no restrictions other than that of age or sex. In the case of remaining ties resulting from preferences or otherwise, the additional starter(s) and/or also-eligible horses shall be determined by lot. Any horse excluded from running because of the aforementioned preference(s) shall be refunded the $25,000 entry fee and the $200,000 supplemental fee, if applicable. After the Closing, CDRT shall designate in order of preference the nominees that are also-eligible to start in accordance with these conditions (“Also Eligible Horses”). If a starter is scratched from the Kentucky Derby before 9:00 a.m (
Eastern Standard Time or EST) on Friday, May 1, 2015 (“Scratch Deadline”), then the Also Eligible Horse with the highest preference (if any) as determined by these conditions shall become a starter. All starters and Also Eligible Horses must be stabled at Churchill Downs by 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 Post positions shall be determined by a nontransferable lot number being drawn for each horse named as a starter at the Closing. The lot number drawn for each starter shall determine the post position of such starter. Horses having common ties through ownership or training shall each be treated separately for purposes of determining post position. In the event of one or more scratches after the determination of post positions and prior to the Scratch Deadline, then (i) starters with post positions higher than the post position of the scratched starter will be moved to the next lowest empty post position (i.e., toward the inside rail of the race track) and (ii) the Also Eligible Horse that becomes a starter (if any) will receive the lowest post position available after the post positions of the other starters have been moved as provided above. In the event one or more scratches occur after the Scratch Deadline, no Also Eligible Horses will be permitted to start and the post positions shall be moved, without changing the order of the starters, as determined by the stewards and CDRT to be in the best interests of the safety of the race participants. Post positions shall be moved for each scratch that occurs so that there are no empty post positions in-between horses at the start of the Kentucky Derby. Detailed rules governing the post-position draw process are available from the Racing Secretary’s office and will be distributed prior to the Closing. These rules shall control. The owner of the winner of the Race shall receive a gold trophy and trophies to the winning breeder, trainer and jockey. 1 1/4 Miles (Run Up 34 Feet)

  Available Money: $2,178,800

  Value of Race: $2,178,800 1st $1,418,800, 2nd $400,000, 3rd $200,000, 4th $100,000, 5th $60,000

  Winner: American Pharoah, Bay Colt by Pioneerof the Nile - Littleprincessemma Bred in Kentucky

  AMERICAN PHAROAH in range 5w,edge up 5/8,5w bid 5/16,duel,led 1/8,brush,driving FIRING LINE prompted 3wd,bid between,led past 5/16,duel,drifted late,brushed DORTMUND quickly to front,towards inside,joined 3/8,battled to 1/8,willing FROSTED rank,rate back start,angled 3/4,sweeping 5wd move,churned on late DANZIG MOON exchanged bumps,in tight 1m out,chase,3w move 5/16,bid,flattened MATERIALITY hesitated start,off pace 4wd,shifted in with run 3/16,recovered KEEN ICE dove to rail,settled,advance 5/16,wait 5wd upper,altered,bump,bid MUBTAAHIJ (IRE) rate back between,angled in,hard ride chasing 5/16, toiled on ITSAKNOCKOUT steadied 1m,angled 3/4,3wd between 1/2,5-6wd upper,no rally CARPE DIEM firm hold saving ground,moved 2wd,chased,mild move 1/2,flattened FRAMMENTO lagged back,7wd upper stretch,bumped late stretch,no factor BOLO exchanged bumps,in tight early,chase 3wd,faded,steady late MR. Z checked repeatedly off heels 1m,chased 4-5wd,gave way 5/16 OCHO OCHO OCHO hard hold along rail early,asked 1/2,slight move 3/8,angle,weaken FAR RIGHT unhurried off rail, very wider upper stretch, no headway WAR STORY steadied, in close between early, angled to rail, no impact TENCENDUR saved ground chasing pace, dropped back 2nd turn UPSTART 4 wide 1st turn, stopped after mile, eased, walked off

  Owners: (18) Zayat Stables, LLC; (10) Arnold Zetcher LLC; (8) Kaleem Shah, Inc.; (15) Godolphin Racing LLC; (5) John C. Oxley; (3) Alto Racing, LLC; (14) Donegal Racing; (6) Essafinaat Limited; (13) Starlight Racing; (2) WinStar Farm LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC; (21) Mossarosa; (9) Golden Pegasus Racing, Inc. and Mack, Earle I.; (17) Zayat Stables, LLC; (1) DP Racing, LLC; (20) LaPenta, Robert V. and Rosenblum, Harry T.; (16) Loooch Racing Stables, Inc., Ellis, Glenn K. and Dunn, Christopher T.; (4) Philip S. Birsh; (19) Evans, Ralph M. and WinStar Farm LLC, Lessee

  Trainers: (18) Bob Baffert; (10) Simon Callaghan; (8) Bob Baffert; (15) Kiaran McLaughlin; (5) Mark Casse; (3) Todd Pletcher; (14) Dale Romans; (6) Michael de Kock; (13) Todd Pletcher; (2) Todd Pletcher; (21) Nicholas Zito; (9) Carla Gaines; (17) D. Lukas; (1) James Cassidy; (20) Ron Moquett; (16) Thomas Amoss; (4) George Weaver; (19) Richard Violette, Jr.

  Late Scratches: Tale of Verve; El Kabeir; International Star; Stanford

  Copyright 2015 Equibase Company LLC. All Right Reserved.

  APPENDIX C

  The official chart for the 2015 Preakness Stakes

  Xpressbet.com Preakness S. (Grade I) Purse: $1,500,000 Guaranteed

  13th Race PIMLICO - Saturday, May 16, 2015

  Stakes Track Condition: Sloppy

  For three-year-olds, $15,000 to pass the entry box, starters to pay $15,000 additional. 60% of the purse to the winner, 20% to second, 11% to third, 6% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Weight 126 pounds for Colts and Geldings, 121 pounds for Fillies. A replica of the Woodlawn Vase will be presented to the winning owner to remain his or her personal property. 1 3/16 Miles (Run Up 50 Feet)

  Available Money: $1,500,000

  Value of Race: $1,500,000 1st $900,000, 2nd $300,000, 3rd $165,000, 4th $90,000, 5th $45,000

  Winner: American Pharoah, Bay Colt by Pioneerof the Nile - Littleprincessemma Bred in Kentucky

  AMERICAN PHAROAH clear into first turn, pace 2 wide 1/4, asked 3/16, ridden out TALE OF VERVE no speed, 2 wide 1/4, 4 wide 3/16, altered in 1/16, rallied DIVINING ROD rail move far turn, 3 wide 1/4, drifted out 1/16, weakened DORTMUND rated back,rail first turn, angled 3/4, 4 wide move 3/8, faltered MR. Z outside winner early, rebid 3 wide 3-1/2, angled in 1/4, tired DANZIG MOON rail, steadied 7-1/2, well back, 3 wide 1/4, no factor FIRING LINE stumbled start, 4 wide first turn, no factor, eased stretch BODHISATTVA some early speed, 2 wide first turn, done 1/2, eased

  Owners: (1) Zayat Stables, LLC; (5) Charles E. Fipke; (7) Lael Stables; (2) Kaleem Shah, Inc.; (3) Calumet Farm; (4) John C. Oxley; (8) Arnold Zetcher LLC; (6) Jose Corrales

  Trainers: (1) Bob Baffert; (5) Dallas Stewart; (7) Arnaud Delacour; (2) Bob Baffert; (3) D. Lukas; (4) Mark Casse; (8) Simon Callaghan; (6) Jose Corrales

  Copyright 2015 Equibase Company LLC. All Right Reserved.

  APPENDIX D

  The official chart for the 2015 Belmont Stakes

  Belmont S. presented by DraftKings (Grade I) Purse: $1,500,000 Guaranteed

  11th Race BELMONT PARK - Saturday, June 06, 2015

  Stakes Track Condition: Fast

  FOR THREE YEAR OLDS. By subscription of $600 each, to accompany the nomination, if made on or before January 17, 2015, or $6,000, if made on or before March 23, 2015. At any time prior to the closing time of entries, horses may be nominated to The Belmont Stakes upon payment of a supplementary fee of $75,000 to the New York Racing Association, Inc. $15,000 to pass the entry box and $15,000 additional to start. All entrants will be required to pay entry and starting fees; but no fees, supplemental or otherwise shall be added to the purse. The purse to be divided $800,000 to the winner, $280,000 to second, $150,000 to third, $100,000 to fourth, $60,000 to fifth, $45,000 to sixth, $35,000 to seventh and $30,000 to eighth. Colts and Geldings, 126 lbs.; Fillies, 121 lbs. The winning owner will be presented with the August Belmont Memorial Cup to be retained for one year as well as a trophy for permanent possession and trophies to the winning trainer and jockey. 1 1/2 Miles (Run Up 68 Feet)

  Available Money: $1,500,000

  Value of Race: $1,500,000 1st $800,000, 2nd $280,000, 3rd $150,000, 4th $100,000, 5th $60,000, 6th $45,000, 7th $35,000, 8th $30,000

  Winner: American Pharoah, Bay Colt by Pioneerof the Nile - Littleprincessemma Bred in Kentucky

  AMERICAN PHAROAH quick control,rate kind ins,let out,drew clr FROSTED well reserve 2p to 1/4,rail on 2nd,angle out upper,no match KEEN ICE 3-4w to 1/4,swung 5w into lane, rallied to get up for show MUBTAAHIJ (IRE) track ins,light hand urge,tip 2p 1/2,had no rally FRAMMENTO quick tuck rail,rail run 2nd,urged 4w into lane, no headway MADEFROMLUCKY 3w 1st, hung out 4w & asked 2nd turn, tired TALE OF VERVE off inside,asked 2nd,cut corner into lane, empty MATERIALITY 3w turrns, attended 2p, gave way

  Owners: (5) Zayat Stables, LLC; (6) Godolphin Racing LLC; (7) Donegal Racing; (1) Essafinaat; (4) Mossarosa; (3) Che
yenne Stables LLC and Nichol, Mac; (2) Charles E. Fipke; (8) Alto Racing, LLC

  Trainers: (5) Bob Baffert; (6) Kiaran McLaughlin; (7) Dale Romans; (1) Michael de Kock; (4) Nicholas Zito; (3) Todd Pletcher; (2) Dallas Stewart; (8) Todd Pletcher

  Copyright 2015 Equibase Company LLC. All Right Reserved.

  APPENDIX E

  The official chart for the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic

  Breeders’ Cup Classic (Grade I) Purse: $5,000,000 Guaranteed

  11th Race KEENELAND - Saturday, October 31, 2015

  Stakes Track Condition: Fast

  FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS AND UPWARD. Northern Hemisphere Three-Year-Olds, 122 lbs.; Older, 126 lbs.; Southern Hemisphere Three-Year-Olds, 117 lbs.; Older, 126 lbs. All Fillies and Mares allowed 3 lbs. $50,000 to pre-enter, $50,000 to enter, with guaranteed $5 million purse including travel awards of which 55% to the owner of the winner, 18% to second, 10% to third, 6% to fourth and 3% to fifth; plus travel awards to starters not based in Kentucky. 1 1/4 Miles (Run Up 34 Feet)

  Available Money: $5,000,000

  Value of Race: $4,550,000 1st $2,750,000, 2nd $900,000, 3rd $500,000, 4th $300,000, 5th $100,000

  Winner: American Pharoah, Bay Colt by Pioneerof the Nile - Littleprincessemma Bred in Kentucky