American Pharoah rules Del Mar Futurity

Zayat Stables' homebred American Pharaoh took command of Wednesday's Grade 1,

$301,000

Del

Mar Futurity not long after the start and never looked back en route to a 4

3/4-length romp under jockey Victor Espinoza.

The Pioneerof the Nile ridgling was making just his second career start,

having finished fifth in his August 9 debut at Del Mar, and earned his first

career victory when finishing seven furlongs in 1:21 2/5 on the Polytrack.

American Pharoah, the 3-1 second choice behind 2-1 favorite and Best Pal

winner Skyway, took the lead from that rival after the gates opened. He

established splits of :22 3/5, :45 1/5 and 1:08 4/5 while Skyway settled into a

stalking spot in fourth while four wide.

Skyway tried to go with the eventual winner rounding the turn, but weakened

in the lane as American Pharoah opened up to return $8.40 to his faithful

backers.

Calculator was best of the rest, 8 1/4 lengths in front of Iron Fist, who

rallied to catch the fading Skyway by a half-length on the wire to take third.

Henry's Holiday was next under the wire and completing the order of finish were

Red Button, Oh Newman, Inexcess Time and Holiday Camp.

American Pharoah is now 1-0-0 from two starts and has banked $181,500. He's

well on his way of earning back his purchase price of $300,000 as a Fasig-Tipton

Saratoga selected yearling.

The bay is the second registered foal out of the Yankee Gentleman mare

Littleprincessemma, who is herself a daughter of stakes heroine Exclusive

Rosette and a half-sister to Grade 2 victor Storm Wolf and Grade 3 diva Misty

Rosette.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com