American Pharoah to be American idol?

Is American Pharoah

next American idol?

Associated Press

BALTIMORE

From a Kentucky horse farm to a sales ring in Saratoga to Bob Baffert’s barn at Santa Anita, American Pharoah gave every indication he’s a champion in the making.

So what if part of his tail is missing and he has cotton stuffed in his ears before races? To owner and breeder Ahmed Zayat, his Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness favorite American Pharoah is the horse of lifetime.

“He is sheer brilliance and comes with unbelievable character,” said Zayat, who was just warming up. “He is a character. He is a horse that is kind, sweet, heady, classy, beautiful. It’s very rare to have a horse that has it all. He does everything as effortlessly as you can ever think.”

In the months after the bay colt was foaled at Stockplace Farm, outside Lexington, Kentucky, on Feb. 2, 2012, then moved to Vinery farm, Zayat received glowing reports, particularly about the way he acted around other horses.

“Usually, when they are young, they’re silly, they hit each other and jump on each other like little kids,” Zayat said. “I kept getting told he’s acting so mature and confident, like ‘I’m the leader of this group.”’

Right now, he’s leading many to believe he can win the Preakness on Saturday, set up a Triple Crown attempt in three weeks at the Belmont Stakes and end a record 37-year gap since Affirmed swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont.

“I am not going ahead of myself,” Zayat said. “We have to win the Preakness and have to see what happens before allowing myself to think of glory.”

Zayat, who has spent millions on horses since diving head first into the business 10 years ago, also is proud American Pharoah is a homebred, a son of his Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile and grandson of another Derby runner-up, Empire Maker. His mother is a horse named for Zayat’s daughter, Emma, Littleprincessemma.

“A to Z, he is Zayat blood,” the owner said of American Pharoah. “His dad is the first horse I bred who won a Grade 1. It’s like saying your first team ever won the Super Bowl. And now he comes and wins the Derby and avenges the losses of his dad and grandfather?”

At Vinery, it was Frances Relihan, operations manager at the time, who told Zayat his colt stood out.

“She told me he is ‘the best foal she ever saw,”’ Zayat recalled. “He was just showing tremendous leadership qualities.”

And then it was on to Taylor Made, where the sales team convinced Zayat his colt could raise Pioneerof the Nile’s profile with breeders, owners and buyers.

So into the ring he went at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected yearling sale, but with a caveat. Zayat would not sell for under $1 million. As it turned out, Zayat bought him back for $300,000.

On to Ocala, Fla., where American Pharoah learned how to be a racehorse. The breaking process went well, and Zayat called in trainers for his “breeze show” to showcase his latest crop.

Baffert immediately stated lobbying Zayat’s son Justin, the general manager of Zayat Stables.

“As soon as I saw this horse work on the farm, I sent him a video and Bob said to me, ‘Justin, remember the Breeders’ Cup is in California this year,” Justin Zayat said. “He wanted our horse. He saw how good he was from Day One. If you want to give a horse time to prepare for the Derby, you’re going to give him to Bob Baffert.”