AMERICAN PHAROAH MADE one last piece of history before retiring.
Bob Baffert’s superstar comfortably outclassed a quality field to win the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Classic at a canter.
Earlier this year, the three-year-old became the first horse since 1978 to win the American Triple Crown, joining an elite list.
No Triple Crown winner had ever gone on to win “the Grand Slam” by adding the $5 million Classic. Until this evening.
Sent into an early lead, American Pharoah won by 6 1/2 lengths and also set a new track record of 2:00.07 over 1m2f in front of a packed crowd at Keeneland.
100/1 shot Effinex was second with Honor Code in third, while the Aidan O’Brien-trained Gleneagles never challenged.
American Pharoah will now be retired to Coolmore’s Ashford Stud where he is expected to command a fee in the region of $200,000.
There was Irish success earlier on Saturday evening as O’Brien’s Found came on late to stun Golden Horn in the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf.
The filly, ridden by Ryan Moore, won a thrilling stretch duel to end Golden Horn’s bid to become the first horse to capture the prestigious Turf after winning the Arc in Paris.
Breeders’ Cup Results
- 16:05 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies: Songbird (5/6 Fav)
- 16:45 – Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint: Mongolian Saturday (20/1)
- 17:25 – Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Wavell Avenue (11/1)
- 18:10 – Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf: Stephanie’s Kitten (12/1)
- 18:50 – Breeders’ Cup Sprint: Runhappy (9/4 Fav)
- 19:30 – Breeders’ Cup Mile: Tepin (7/1)
- 20:10 – Breeders’ Cup Juvenile: Nyquist (11/2 J2Fav)
- 20:50 – Breeders’ Cup Turf: Found (4/1 2Fav)
- 21:35 – Breeders’ Cup Classic: American Pharoah (4/6 Fav)
– Additional reporting by AFP