American Pharoah's backers and fans have to be breathing a sigh of relief after yesterday's Rebel Stakes (USA-II) -- not because it was a tough race for their hero, but because he did exactly what he should have done against an overmatched field in spite of the sloppy surface and a twisted shoe: he practically walked home. Essentially, the colt got a paid workout with a nice little pipe-opener of a final 5/16 in :30.56 after being allowed to gallop through a slow early pace.
Critics will point out that the race provided little toughening for the son of Pioneerof the Nile, and this is true. On the other hand, the fact that he could quicken away from the slow pace with Victor Espinoza sitting chilly is encouraging, as is the lovely way he lengthened stride. Like many of the leading contenders among this year's colts, he has a pedigree with substantial question marks as to his ability to get 10 furlongs, at least on the dam's side, but his beautifully fluid action will go a long way toward making the most of whatever stamina he has. His other great weapon is his ability to set an early cruising speed that can take rivals out of their own game and gallop them into the ground even before the homestretch.
American Pharoah's pedigree has similar elements to that of Half Ours, a brilliantly fast but fragile horse sired by Unbridled's Song (like American Pharoah's grandsire Empire Maker, a son of Unbridled) out of Zing, a full sister to Pharoah's broodmare sire Yankee Gentleman. This is not entirely reassuring as to the colt's distance capabilities, especially since these elements are grafted onto a speed-oriented female line. The saving grace for Pharoah may be his direct male line, as Empire Maker (sire of Pioneerof the Nile) won the Belmont Stakes (USA-I) and has turned out to be a good source of stamina.
As Pioneerof the Nile's oldest foals are only 4-year-olds, he is still something of a question mark as to just how much stamina he will transmit, but he's a better bet to sire staying offspring than quite a few stallions out there.
At the least, American Pharoah should get 9 furlongs with no trouble, and the Arkansas Derby (USA-I) looks to be pretty much at his mercy assuming he stays healthy.
Critics will point out that the race provided little toughening for the son of Pioneerof the Nile, and this is true. On the other hand, the fact that he could quicken away from the slow pace with Victor Espinoza sitting chilly is encouraging, as is the lovely way he lengthened stride. Like many of the leading contenders among this year's colts, he has a pedigree with substantial question marks as to his ability to get 10 furlongs, at least on the dam's side, but his beautifully fluid action will go a long way toward making the most of whatever stamina he has. His other great weapon is his ability to set an early cruising speed that can take rivals out of their own game and gallop them into the ground even before the homestretch.
American Pharoah's pedigree has similar elements to that of Half Ours, a brilliantly fast but fragile horse sired by Unbridled's Song (like American Pharoah's grandsire Empire Maker, a son of Unbridled) out of Zing, a full sister to Pharoah's broodmare sire Yankee Gentleman. This is not entirely reassuring as to the colt's distance capabilities, especially since these elements are grafted onto a speed-oriented female line. The saving grace for Pharoah may be his direct male line, as Empire Maker (sire of Pioneerof the Nile) won the Belmont Stakes (USA-I) and has turned out to be a good source of stamina.
As Pioneerof the Nile's oldest foals are only 4-year-olds, he is still something of a question mark as to just how much stamina he will transmit, but he's a better bet to sire staying offspring than quite a few stallions out there.
At the least, American Pharoah should get 9 furlongs with no trouble, and the Arkansas Derby (USA-I) looks to be pretty much at his mercy assuming he stays healthy.
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