American Pharoah Faces Six in Rebel

Just a few days short of five years ago, trainer Bob Baffert sent the previous year’s 2-year-old champion to Oaklawn Park from his California base to make his sophomore debut in the GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Park. 

Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike) became the first of the conditioner’s four winners in the span of five years in 2010, and American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) will look to do the same when he faces a half-dozen seemingly overmatched foes in the final local prep for the $1-million GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 11. But whereas Lookin at Lucky arrived in Hot Springs a seasoned 3-year-old off a six-race juvenile campaign, American Pharoah joins Sakima, by 2007 Rebel winner Curlin, as the field’s least-experienced entrants with just three races under their belt. But his two victories have been much faster than anything else any of his rivals have put up, and moreover, he seems to have a significant tactical advantage this weekend as the lone apparent speed of the race. 

While Harry Rosenblum’s big shooter Far Right (Notional) is waiting for the Racing Festival of the South, he will take a crack at American Pharoah with Sakima, though the chestnut has never crossed the wire first in his three starts.