The American Pharoah Stakes (G1) Oct. 3 at Santa Anita Park is Southern California's first two-turn dirt stakes race for 2-year-old males aiming to earn a "Win and You're In" berth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and to hopefully compete in next spring's Kentucky Derby (G1).
1. Dang Son (12-1 morning-line odds): He's 1-for-3 so far, and his only win came in his only two-turn race, which was on turf. He comes in off a distant third-place finish behind Hughes in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at seven furlongs and will need a big forward leap to have a chance at winning this race. Good pedigree for stretching out.
JOCKEY: Emisael Jaramillo; TRAINER: Doug O'Neill
2. Hughes (4-5): Not only has he won all three of his starts to date, but he also hasn't really been challenged yet. Took both of Del Mar's graded sprint stakes on dirt for juvenile males, the Best Pal Stakes (G3) and Del Mar Futurity, by widening margins. He should relish the extra distance based on pedigree and is the clear favorite in this spot despite the presence of talented stablemates.
JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
3. Net Par (12-1): California-bred has a pair of wins in four races, all at sprint distances, and in his two defeats he stumbled at the start. He's been running against fellow state-breds, though. This is a big class test that'll be tough to pass.
JOCKEY: Victor Espinoza; TRAINER: Antonio Garcia
4. Imperial Honor (9-5): Comes in off of a visually impressive first-out maiden win going 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar on the track's Sept. 7 meet-closing Labor Day card. This close relative to current turf star Deterministic defeated nine opponents, and the sky appears to be the limit. Note that Juan Hernandez, who was aboard in his debut, rides Hughes.
JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
5. Emancipate (10-1): Finished fourth in his rough-trip debut and was then bumped and had to steady at the quarter pole of a six-furlong Del Mar maiden race, which he won anyway. Very well-bred with a female family that suggests a mile might be his preferred distance.
JOCKEY: Mike Smith; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
6. Domus (8-1): Won his debut impressively sprinting at Del Mar but then finished a distant fourth of five behind Hughes and Dang Son in the Del Mar Futurity. Has a chance at the upset against this small field if he rebounds—like his Baffert-trained foes, he's got a solid pedigree.
JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Bob Baffert
THE PICK: Imperial Honor
LIVE LONGSHOT: Dang Son
TRIFECTA: 4-2-6
