American Pharoah (Photo : Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)
Owner Ahmed Zayat decided to field American Pharoah in the Breeders' Cup Classic after carefully analyzing why it suffered a second place finish to Keen Ice in last weekend's Travers Stakes at Saratoga.
Zayat intially wanted to retire American Pharoah for not running his "A" race, reports ESPN.
The owner discussed all aspects of the race with his team, which includes trainer Bob Baffert, racing manager for Zayat Stables Justin Zayat, assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes, and jockey Victor Espinoza before coming up with the decision.
The main concern was American Pharoah's condition. But it turned out that the 3-year-old superstar colt came out of the race in great shape.
The team concluded that American Pharoah, sport's first Triple Crown champion in 37 years, can run to his best again and deserves another chance at "redemption."
It was American Pharoah's first defeat in more than a year, according to a report by The New York Times.
There were a combination of factors that prevented American Pharoah from running his best on Saturday.
A little over 24 hours before the Travers Stakes event, American Pharoah galloped an unusually quick 2:24 in a mile and a quarter around Saratoga's main track.
In the race, American Pharoah was pressed by Frosted, and eventually drew clear but had little left to fend off Keen Ice iand finished just three-quarters of a length behind the winner.
Zayat said he is cursing himself for asking his colt to " be bionic" for all it went through.
He added that they are still thinking on whether they would give American Pharoah a prep race before the Breeders' Cup.
The $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland is one of the most eagerly anticipated races in decades.
It is expected to attract the two-time champion mare Beholder, Coolmore's foreign invader Gleneagles, Honor Code, Tonalist and Keen Ice.
By winning Breeders' Cup Classic, American Pharoah would become the first horse to achieve the Grand Slam of the Triple Crown plus the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The colt has created celebrities around him, with his jockey being chosen to compete in the 21st season of "Dancing with the Stars."
After its racing career is over, American Pharoah will begin a new career as a sire at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Versailles, Kentucky.
