Breeders’ Cup World Championships
$5 Million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1)
Additional American Pharoah Quotes
Contact Notes Team (859) 250-0358
Bob Baffert (trainer, American Pharoah, 1st) – “I am so proud of this horse, but I am so relieved. Afterhis last race (Travers loss) I got so down on myself. When he’s right, he’s right and you saw what he can do today. It has been a privilege to train this horse. It’s tough to win a Breeders’ Cup; you'd better come with a good horse. I am so proud of him. This is the greatest horse I’ll ever see. He is a champion. I am so glad that American Pharoah goes out the champion he is. We're all going to miss him.
“When I saddled him, I could tell that he was full of himself. He was right. I was soworried. I just wanted to make sureeverything went just right. I felt an extreme amount of pressure. When you have a good horse like this, you want it to all go right. In the paddock, I told Victor that he was right today and just to ride him. Down the backside with the way he was going, I knew from then on....Then turning for home, I felt good. I am just glad that the real ‘Pharoah’ showed up today.”
Ahmed Zayat (Owner, American Pharoah, 1st) – “What can I say? What a horse! He is the most brilliant horse I have ever seen. We are so appreciate to have him and we owe American Pharoah everything. He is a once-in-a-lifetime horse. This race was only about American Pharoah and we wanted him to go out a winner. He runs with his heart and he is brilliantly fast. This was an incredible thrill. It was so emotional. I didn't know even see the final eighth (of a mile) because I had my eyes closed the whole time. It was so emotional.
“It would be highly inappropriate for me to answer your question about where I think this horse belongs in the annals of racing history. I am not a historian, and I am extremely biased.
On what today's win does for his legacy: “For weeks after the Travers Bob and I had beaten ourselves up. I take total responsibility for him getting beat. It was overzealous of us to run him. We did not want his legacy to end that way.”
On what's next: “The Triple Crown winner should go out in a way that is appropriate for both this sport and his fans, and for him. We will discuss it in order to pay tribute to such a special animal.”
Victor Espinoza (jockey, American Pharoah, 1st) – I knew this was going to be his last race and I let him run. On the backside, the path I was in was a little deep, so I decided to move out and he accelerated a little. Turning for home, I knew I was gone. American Pharoah was the best horse I have ever ridden. This time he felt like the American Pharoah from the Triple Crown and not the Travers.”
The victory was Bob Baffert’s second straight Breeders’ Cup Classic victory and his 12th overall. He is ranked second only to D. Wayne Lukas, who has won 20. This was the third Breeders’ Cup win for jockey for Victor Espinoza and the first Breeders’ Cup victory for Zayat Stable.
####