American Pharoah likely clinched early favoritism for the Kentucky Derby (Coady Photography)

As jockey Victor Espinoza sat motionless in the saddle, the 1-10 favorite coasted past weakening front runner Bridget's Big Luvy (Tiz Wonderful) on the far turn and widened his advantage to eight lengths, geared down. The Bob Baffert trainee crossed the wire unextended, in a final time of 1:48 2/5 for 1 1/8 miles on the fast track.

American Pharoah was issuing a riposte to his undefeated stablemate Dortmund (Big Brown), who had threatened to usurp Kentucky Derby favoritism when galloping in last Saturday's Santa Anita Derby (G1). But after American Pharoah's sensational performance at Oaklawn Park, last year's champion two-year-old male may have consolidated his position at the top of the market.

In contrast to his habitual pacesetting ways, American Pharoah employed new stalking tactics this time. When the 38-1 Bridget's Big Luvy sprinted to the fore, American Pharoah was content to let him go ahead, and relaxed kindly in second through fast fractions of :22 3/5 and :45 4/5. The longshot began to come back to the champ at the six-furlong mark in 1:10 2/5. American Pharoah easily overtook him, and the race was over. Never asked by Espinoza, American Pharoah cantered through a mile in 1:35 4/5, won under wraps, and paid $2.20.

American Pharoah first, the rest nowhere (Coady Photography)

The bay made a winning return in the March 14 Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn, where he dislodged his right front shoe but still dominated by 6 1/4 lengths in the slop. By capturing the Arkansas Derby in another raid on Hot Springs, he boosted his bankroll to $1,411,500 from his 5-4-0-0 record.

The Kentucky homebred was listed as sold for $300,000 as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August, but was actually a buyback. He was produced by the Yankee Gentleman mare Littleprincessemma, herself a half-sister to Grade 3 scorers Storm Wolf and Misty Rosette, both by Stormin Fever.