Zayat Stables's champion juvenile American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) drew post six of eight yesterday for Saturday's GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn. The bay was installed a prohibitive 1-2 favorite on the morning line. “We didn't want to be the one-hole so I was happy with the draw,” said Bob Baffert, who sent out fellow Zayat representative Bodemeister (Empire Maker) to a win in here in 2012. “We should be fine. He just needs some racing luck.” A clear winner of the GI Del Mar Futurity and GI FrontRunner S. last season, American Pharoah romped home in the slop by 6 1/4 lengths from re-opposing rivals Madefromlucky (Lookin At Lucky), Bold Conquest (Curlin) and The Truth Or Else (Yes It's True) in the GII Rebel S. here Mar. 14. Harry Rosenblum and Robert V. LaPenta's Far Right (Notional) appears the favorite's main danger. The Ron Moquett pupil is two-for-two in 2015, having annexed Oaklawn's Smarty Jones S. Jan. 19, as well as the GIII Southwest S. Feb. 22 over The Truth or Else, fellow Zayat representative Mr. Z (Malibu Moon) and Bold Conquest.
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