American Pharoah is still #1 in my book

American Pharoah is still #1 in my book
Photo: Matthew Scott

1. American Pharoah - The eight race winning streak is over. America’s horse was beaten. So what do we do now? I’ll tell you what we do. We give credit to Keen Ice for an excellent victory, and we pull up our bootstraps and get ready for what promises to be a fantastic edition of the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Sure, in the emotion filled moments after yesterday’s Travers, owner Ahmed Zayat seemed resigned to retire his Triple Crown winning superstar. It was understandable. The man was upset. Let’s just see what happens in the coming weeks, because if American Pharoah bounces back as well as he has always done, and with nine weeks in between races, you better believe that he would be a tough horse to knock off in America’s richest race. Oh, and by the way, if you are going to have a long winning streak broken, American Pharoah’s loss in the Travers was about as bravely as it can be done. Coming back at Frosted like he did in the stretch was a beautiful thing, even if he did not have quite enough to hold off the rushing late runner. American Pharoah is still #1 in my book. 2. Beholder - You’ve come a long way, baby. It’s true that this champion has been around for a long time. Beholder was a champion at two. She was a champion at three. She did not get the chance in last year’s Breeders’ Cup, otherwise I believe she would have won her third Eclipse Award. Having said all that, the last three seasons can be placed in the rearview mirror for now, because she is an even better horse in 2015. Two starts back, her win in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch may have been the best performance of her career. The best, that is, until she threw down a tour-de-force in the Pacific Classic. They weren’t America’s best boys that she was beating, but the performance was stunning and stylish, nonetheless. She’ll get her third Eclipse Award this year, but the real question is whether she takes on the big boys in the Classic, because if she does, Beholder is a real threat.

3. Honor Code - With all the fireworks going off the last week with Beholder’s Pacific Classic, followed by the defeat of the Triple Crown champion in the Travers, it would be easy to forget about the top older horse in the nation. That would be a mistake. Save a dull effort at Churchill Downs, the son of A.P. Indy has been spectacular this year. He collared Private Zone at a flat mile at Gulfstream Park, and we now know how good that one is. He went from last to first in as good a rally as you will ever see in running away with the prestigious Met Mile at Belmont Park. Finally, he caught a talented and tenacious Liam’s Map when that one absolutely looked home free in the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga. Clearly, he does not need to take his track with him. Give him a legitimate pace in the 1 ¼ mile Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, and you just know that he will be coming late. With plenty of speed lining up for that one, a solid pace is looking pretty likely. Don’t forget about Honor Code.

4. Shared Belief - Do not forget that this fantastic gelding was 10-for-11 lifetime not that long ago, and looking every bit the part as America’s top racehorse. Fickle winds of fate blew in, and before a Triple Crown Champion emerged, Shared Belief was injured and eased in the Charles Town Classic. His impressive wins in the San Antonio, over California Chrome, and the Big Cap, keep the champion’s spot at number four for now, but doubtful to race again this year, it will be just a matter of time before others on this list leapfrog him. Hopefully, we will see him again next year, fully recovered, and running like his old self again in 2016.

5. Private Zone - I had a very hard time keeping this old pro all the way down at five, I really did. Best sprinter in the land? I think so. As tough as nails? I know so. It could be argued that other than the top one, no horse has been as consistent as this one this year. Only Honor Code has been able to put him in his place this year, and he needed a mile to do it. At seven furlongs or less, I am beginning to think that no horse is going to touch Private Zone this year. His win in yesterday’s Forego was just about as easy as it gets. My only question is, if they point for the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile over the Sprint this year. He’s probably good enough to win either.

6. Lady Eli - In three races last year, culminating with an electrifying win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, this daughter of Divine Park was as good as any young American grass filly that we have seen in a long time. This year, she was even better. Now six-for-six, and the queen of U.S. turf racing, Lady Eli is now fighting the toughest competition of her life. The good news is that her battle with laminitis is going very well so far. Whether or not she ever races again, her well being is the most important thing.

7. Flintshire - Other than perhaps the great Wise Dan, do you think the best European turf horses have an advantage over America’s grass contingent? Hello, Captain Obvious. I mean yesterday’s Sword Dancer couldn’t have been too much more telling. A top class globetrotter, Flintshire has been running against the world’s best turf horses, and running well. More often second than first, the son of Dansili demonstrated what he can do away from Treve and the like with a thorough undressing of his American competition. As much as I like The Pizza Man, the class and power of one of the world’s best was on display at Saratoga, and none of the American turf horses will have enough to answer it in full. He finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last year. He should do one better this year.

8. Frosted - Poor Frosted. As well as the talented gray colt has run this year, it’s hard to believe that the Grade 1 Wood Memorial remains his only win in seven starts. I thought he was unlucky in the Jim Dandy, and yesterday’s performance in the Travers was as solid as ever. He looked the champ in the eye, and gave him everything he had. As was true the first two times they met, American Pharoah proved the better horse. There really is no shame in that. As a staunch supporter of the overall quality of this crop, I have to wonder where Frosted would be in a different year. He’s a solid, solid three-year-old. One last thing on Frosted … perhaps Jerry Crawford and Donegal should think about kicking in a portion of yesterday’s earnings to Frosted, for without his dirty work being done, Keen Ice would have finished behind the Pharaoh one more time.

9. Keen Ice - I must admit, it bothers me a fair measure that people are choosing to put down American Pharoah by pointing out that Keen Ice only had one win going into the Travers. That’s true, but the colt hasn’t run in anything less than a Grade 2 ever since breaking his maiden nearly a year ago. Or maybe they haven’t been watching his progression of late. After a tough trip in the Derby, the developing son of Curlin came back to finish third in the Belmont, second in the Haskell, before yesterday’s big win in the Travers. He reminds me a lot of a well-known horse named Concern from a few decades ago. He didn’t win a lot either, but with the right set up, he always came running. Keen Ice is actually a step ahead, as Concern could not get by Holy Bull in the Travers. He would have his day in the sun in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which is something not totally out of the question for Keen Ice.

10. Lady Shipman - You already know that I believe Private Zone is the best sprinter in the nation, but what about the girls? My vote would go to this streaking daughter of Midshipman. She doesn’t run on the dirt, nor does she have big name connections. She hasn’t even run in any graded stakes yet, but how about her 8-7-0-1 record in 2015? She gets credit with me for the entire body of work this year, which includes six stakes wins, but more than that, it is the way she is dominating her competition. And if you question who that competition is, just look what she has done to solid fillies and mares in her two races at Saratoga this summer. I’m not sure anyone can stop her in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland, male or female.


Meet Brian Zipse

Brian has been a passionate fan of horse racing his entire life. Taken to the races at a very young age, he has been lucky enough to see all the greats in person from Secretariat, Forego, and Ruffian through Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, American Pharoah and Justify. Before coming to HRN, Brian displayed his love for the sport through the development of his horse racing website, which quickly became one of the most popular blogs in the game. His racing partnership venture, Derby Day Racing, invites more fans to experience the thrill of racehorse ownership.

The Editor of Horse Racing Nation from 2010-2017, Brian authored a daily column as Zipse at the Track, created the popular racing webcast HorseCenter, and added his editorial flare to the overall content of the website. Now a Senior Writer for HRN, Brian continues to contribute his thoughts on racing, as well as hosting HorseCenter. A big supporter of thoroughbred aftercare, he serves on the Board of The Exceller Fund.

Brian's work has also been published on several leading industry sites. He has consulted for leading contest site Derby Wars and is a Vox Populi committee member. He is a voter for racing's Hall of Fame, as well as a weekly NTRA poll voter. 

A horse owner and graduate of DePaul University, Brian lives just outside of Louisville with his wife Candice and daughter Kendra.

 
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