American Pharoah confirmed for Arkansas Derby

Champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) will be returning to Oaklawn

Park for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) April 11, owner Ahmed Zayat said

Friday afternoon. Among the country's leading Kentucky Derby (G1) candidates,

American Pharoah opened his 2015 campaign with a front-running 6 1/4-length

victory in last Saturday's $750,000 Rebel (G2), the final major local prep for

the Arkansas Derby.

American Pharoah was flown back to his Southern California base Monday, but

Zayat said Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has already decided to return the

Eclipse Award-winning two-year-old to Oaklawn for his final Kentucky Derby prep.

"That has been the plan," Zayat said. "Timing-wise, it works best. But also,

we don't ship unless we're ready. And funny enough, Bob think he's ready today.

The horse has been on a tear."