Study Guide: 2024 American Pharoah Stakes

Oct 04, 2024 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Saturday’s $300,000 American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita is a productive early stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Two of the last 10 Kentucky Derby (G1) winners have used the 1 1/16-mile race as a stepping stone to glory on the first Saturday in May.

Seven horses has entered the 2024 American Pharoah, seeking the 10-5-3-2-1 Kentucky Derby qualification points awarded to the top five finishers. Let’s meet the field:

---

McKinzie Street

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Leslie A. Amestoy, Pierre Jean Amestoy Jr., and Roger K. Beasley
Breeder: Clearsky Farms
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Jockey: Kazushi Kimura

Top Speed Rating: (97) when finishing second in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $105,000

Sire: McKinzie
Dam: Karpathos
Color: Dark bay/brown

McKinzie Street impressed in his debut, leading all the way to defeat fellow American Pharoah entrant Emerald Bay by 3 1/2 lengths. He followed up with a game runner-up finish in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), beaten only 1 3/4 lengths by Gaming while pulling four lengths clear of the rest. Since Gaming isn’t entered in the American Pharoah, McKinzie Street looms as the horse to beat in his Road to the Kentucky Derby debut.

---

Show of Force

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Triple V Racing
Breeder: Gary Broad -- Walmac Farm
Trainer: Todd Fincher
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli

Top Speed Rating: (77) when breaking his maiden on turf at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $47,820

Sire: Omaha Beach
Dam: Life Force
Color: Dark bay/brown

Show of Force was beaten only two lengths when fifth in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3) last time out. But he’s proven best on grass so far and ran fifth by 6 3/4 lengths in his lone start against easier competition on dirt, so returning to dirt for the American Pharoah is a question mark.

---

Citizen Bull

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 0
Show: 1

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Robert Low and Lawana Low
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia

Top Speed Rating: (92) when winning his debut at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $81,000

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: No Joke
Color: Bay

Citizen Bull battled gamely to win his debut over Smash It and Kalea Bay, two horses who have since come back to win maiden races of their own. This effort stamped Citizen Bull as the favorite for the Del Mar Futurity, in which he closed ground from sixth place to finish third by 5 3/4 lengths. Citizen Bull gives the impression he’ll improve while stretching out over 1 1/16 miles, and quick recent workouts suggest he’s one of the main dangers to McKinzie Street.

---

Mischief River

Start(s): 3
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Bow River Ranch
Breeder: Pam and Martin Wygod
Trainer: James W. Glenn Jr.
Jockey: Cesar Ortega

Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing second in the Best Pal (G3) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $60,600

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Candy Drawer
Color: Bay

Mischief River set the pace in the Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3) before weakening slightly to finish fourth by three-quarters of a length. That effort followed a runner-up finish against American Pharoah rival Getaway Car in the Best Pal (G3) on dirt. Mischief River is versatile and fits well at the graded stakes level, though a spot in the top four might be the ceiling for his potential against Grade 1 company.

---

Emerald Bay

Start(s): 2
Wins: 1
Place: 1
Show: 0

Owner: Michael E. Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman
Breeder: G. Watts Humphrey
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Antonio Fresu

Top Speed Rating: (87) when finishing second in his debut at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $60,000

Sire: Nyquist
Dam: Romantic Vision
Color: Dark bay/brown

Emerald Bay couldn’t keep up with McKinzie Street when finishing second in his debut sprinting 5 1/2 furlongs, but he proved clearly best when stretching out over one mile for his second start, dueling for the lead before pulling away to win by three lengths. Emerald Bay is progressing in the right direction and can challenge for a top-four finish in the American Pharoah.

---

Start Mo Up

Start(s): 1
Wins: 0
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: Randy Jill Gootzeit
Breeder: Don Ming
Trainer: Joe Lejzerowicz
Jockey: Serafin Carmona

Top Speed Rating: (68) when finishing ninth in his debut at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $500

Sire: Mo Town
Dam: Jaggermama
Color: Dark bay/brown

Start Mo Up showed little in his lone start to date, finishing ninth in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Del Mar. But sire Mo Town won multiple graded stakes over 1 1/8 miles, so stretching out in distance may help Start Mo Up improve.

---

Getaway Car

Start(s): 3
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 0

Owner: SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan
Breeder: Blue Heaven Farm and Curlin Syndicate
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Juan Hernandez

Top Speed Rating: (96) when winning the Best Pal (G3) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $153,000

Sire: Curlin
Dam: Surrender Now
Color: Dark bay/brown

Getaway Car easily won his first two starts, including the Best Pal (G3) by 5 1/2 lengths over Mischief River. But then he disappointed in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), fading after setting a hot pace to finish fourth by six lengths. Stretching out over 1 1/16 miles in the American Pharoah should allow Getaway Car to set a more relaxed place, especially while removing blinkers, which is a 32% winning move for trainer Bob Baffert. Getaway Car has the pedigree to handle 1 1/16 miles, so don’t be surprised if he rebounds in a big way and challenges McKinzie Street for first place.