Profile of 2015 Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah

American Pharoah is by Pioneerof the Nile, who finished second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby, and is out of the Yankee Gentleman mare Littleprincessemma.

Pioneerof the Nile is himself by Empire Maker, who was runner-up in the 2003 Kentucky Derby prior to winning that year’s Belmont S. (G1). American Pharoah’s paternal great-grandsire is Unbridled, hero of the 1990 Kentucky Derby.

American Pharoah is a Zayat Stables homebred who was born in Kentucky. Ahmed Zayat, owner of the farm, also bred and owned Pioneerof the Nile, and named American Pharoah’s dam after his daughter.

A record Derby Day crowd of 170,513 were present at Churchill Downs to watch the bay colt win the Run for the Roses by a length under jockey Victor Espinoza, who picked up his third victory in the race and second straight after piloting War Emblem in 2002 and last year’s conqueror, California Chrome.

American Pharoah is trained by Hall of Fame conditioner Bob Baffert, who has compiled a 25-4-3-2 mark in the Kentucky Day thanks to prior wins with Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem. Baffert also saddled American Pharoah’s sire to his runner-up effort.

With the Derby added to his resume, American Pharoah’s scorecard now stands at 6-5-0-0 with $2,830,300 in lifetime earnings. He finished fifth in his career debut at Del Mar in San Diego before going on to capture the Del Mar Futurity (G1) at that same track and the FrontRunner S. (G1) at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California.

The bay colt earned an Eclipse Award as the 2014 champion two-year-old male, and this year won the Rebel S. (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1), both at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas, prior to taking the Kentucky Derby.

American Pharoah was sent off the favorite at odds of 2.90-1 (5-2) in Derby 141 and paid $7.80. In the Kentucky Derby Future Wager (KDFW), he was worth $27.60 (12.80-1) in Pool 1, $23 (10.50-1) in Pool 2, $18.20 (8-1) in Pool 3 and $13 (5-1) in Pool 4.

Firing Line was not an individual betting interest in Pool 1, so American Pharoah paid $58 for those holding an exacta on him and the all-others wagering interest. Those who held an exacta wager on American Pharoah and Firing Line in Pool 2 was rewarded with $787.80; in Pool 3 earned $744.60; and in Pool 4 was paid $158.

Photo: Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography