They
say all good things come to an end and so it was for Champion US Three Year Old
and Triple Crown hero American Pharoah, who tasted defeat for the first time
this year when finishing second in the Group I Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
The glamour Bob Baffert trained colt went down by three-quarters of a length to
progressive colt Keen Ice, who was coming off a last start second to American
Pharoah in the Group I Haskell after finishing third to the champion in the Group
I Belmont.
His trainer Dale Romans was shocked, but delighted by the win.
"We were watching the race in the office and I think sprinting over [to
the winner's circle] is the first time I've run in a long time," said Dale
Romans.
"[Owner] Jerry Crawford called me this morning and said, 'Let's put him in the
race. We don't need to run second again in a Grade I, let's try to win.' We put
him in the race and Javier [Castellano] rode him perfect. He was never far out
of it and turning for home you could almost tell he was going to win."
It was only the second win for the son of Curlin, who broke his maiden at
Churchill Downs last year.
Connections of American Pharoah felt their colt was not at his best.
"I feel bad for the horse, getting beat like that," said Bob Baffert.
"Just listening to [jockey] Victor [Espinoza's commentary], you can just tell,
he wasn't on his A-game today. He tried hard, he looked like he was done way
early and he kept fighting on. The winner ran a great race. Pharoah, he dug in
today...he didn't bring his A-game."
Retirement may now be a very realistic option for American Pharoah, who will
join the Coolmore roster in 2016.
The winner Keen Ice comes from an interesting family as he is the first winner
for Awesome Again mare Medomak, who comes from the family of dual Group I
winner Verrazano (USA), who stands his first season at Coolmore Australia this spring
at a fee of $13,750.