American Pharoah at the Breeders' Cup: 5 Things to Know

Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

On October 31st, American Pharoah and other elite thoroughbreds from around the globe will compete in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, horse racing’s year-end championship. For most sports fans, horse racing has not been top-of-mind since American Pharoah became the 1st Triple Crown winner in 37 years at the Belmont Stakes in early June.

With the Breeders’ Cup around the corner and with American Pharoah and his handlers looking to cement their place in horse racing history, here are five things you need to know prior to what is expected to be American Pharoah’s final race.

    1) This Race Could Define American Pharoah’s Legacy

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is horse racing’s international, year-end championship event. The 1 and ¼ mile race’s $5 million purse makes it the richest purse in all of North American horse racing.

After winning six consecutive Grade 1 races in 2015, including the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, American Pharoah faltered down the stretch at the Travers Stakes, finishing second to longshot Keen Ice.

Despite the setback at the track the Saratogian News presciently reminded readers is known as the “Graveyard of Champions,” 2015 has already been a historic season for American Pharoah. A win at the Breeders’ Cup Classic would re-ignite discussions the champion’s place amongst the greatest race horses of all-time.

    2) The American Pharoah Effect is Real

Horse racing in the United States has experienced a resurgence in interest since American Pharoah’s Triple Crown concluded four and a half months ago.

Sports super-agent Leigh Steinberg recently noted the impact of American Pharoah Effect in his column on Forbes. He cites the record setting crowds and betting handles at the Haskell invitational and Travers Stakes, both post-Triple Crown races.

NBC noted a ratings increase of 14% for their August telecast of the Whitney Handicap, a race in which American Pharoah did not compete.

    3) American Pharoah Has Looked Very Strong in Recent Training

American Pharoah is evidently back in Triple Crown form, as the colt put in a very impressive performance at California’s Santa Anita Racetrack in his second-to-last workout before departing for the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Private clocker Gary Young told Louisville’s Courier Journal:

"He's been galloping really good this week. His work today was terrific. It was a carbon copy of his last work. He had the same workmate, the same plan of attack and the same finish. I think he's a great horse and he seems really, really 'right' at this time.”

The results made quite an impression on American Pharoah’s owner Ahmed Zayat, as is evident in his reaction on Twitter:

    4) A Look at the Other Contenders

Although American Pharoah is the heavy favorite, there will be stiff competition at the Classic, including Keen Ice, the winner of the Travers Stakes. Here are a few of the more notable contenders:

Beholder: This five-year-old mare is one of the best of her generation with 15 lifetime wins including the 2015 Pacific Classic Stakes where she beat 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern.

Honor Code: The 2015 winner of the Metropolitan Handicap and Whitney Stakes, this four-year-old bay colt has enjoyed a successful career, with six lifetime wins despite missing much of the 2014 season due to a small ligament tear.

Tonalist: Last year’s fifth place finisher in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, this four-year-old bay colt is best known for dashing California Chrome’s 2014 Triple Crown hopes with a win at the Belmont Stakes.

Keen Ice: Despite only two career wins, this three-year-old scored a massive upset in the 2015 Travers Stakes, besting American Pharoah in his only loss of the year.

    5) Early Odds on the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic

Many online horse racing books won’t set their official odds until a day before the race, but many licensed providers have published projected odds for entertainment purposes.

The projected Breeders’ Cup odds from BetAmerica show American Pharoah as a 2:1 favorite, with Beholder expected to contend at 3:1, and Honor Code and Tonalist both rounding out the expected class of the field at 8:1 odds each.

According to the Sporting News, 200 horses have been pre-entered in the 13 Breeders’ Cup races, with American Pharoah and nine other entries listed for the Classic. Final entries and post positions were drawn on Monday evening, with American Pharoah drawing the favorable No. 4 position. The thoroughbred is now only days away from his attempt to win the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic to put an exclamation mark on his historic career.