Eight Rings Makes Amends in the American Pharoah

Sent off the 6-5 chalk to atone for the disaster that was the GI Del Mar Futurity, 'TDN Rising Star' Eight Rings (Empire Maker) set a strong pace over a Santa Anita main track that was extremely tiring and therefore got a bit leg-weary late, but proved too tough in Friday's GI American Pharoah S. American Theorem, by the Triple Crown winner for whom the race is named, chased home the winner from second, while Storm the Court (Court Vision), who was involved in the Del Mar Futurity fiasco as well, took a three-way photo for third.

Ridden for speed by John Velazquez, Eight Rings led them along at a good gallop, covering the opening couple of furlongs in :23.72, a full second faster than the pace of the Chandelier S. three races earlier on the program. Still cruising along after a half in a strong :47.06, Eight Rings was given a tap-down crack of the whip nearing the stretch, put a few more lengths on American Theorem and raced greenly inside the final eighth of a mile, but by then had the race in safe keeping.

“He's still not 100% confident in what he needs to do,” said Velazquez. “If he can put his mind to running, he'll be a dangerous horse.”

A $520,000 acquisition by this powerhouse partnership at last year's Keeneland September sale, Eight Rings was no doubt one of the talking horses of the entire Del Mar meeting when he went out for his Aug. 4 debut. Favored at 3-5 at a 5 1/2-furlong trip that was always going to be too sharp, he nonetheless treated his five rivals with disdain, pouring it on late to score by 6 1/4 lengths, good for a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. The Futurity was to be a mere formality, but it all went wrong out of the chute when he ducked in Drefong-style and dumped Drayden Van Dyke. With blinkers added Friday, he left little doubt as to who the king of the hill is, at least in the west.

Eight Rings is the record-extending ninth winner of the American Pharoah (nee Norfolk, FrontRunner) and second in succession following Game Winner (Candy Ride)'s victory 12 months ago. The latter, along with fellow race winners American Pharoah and Lookin at Lucky, each went on to Eclipse Award honors at two.

Pedigree Notes:

Eight Rings is the 12th Grade I winner for Empire Maker, whose first crop since his repatriation from Japan in 2016 are 2-year-olds of this year. He is the 62nd worldwide black-type winner and 33rd group/graded winner overall and is the third male Grade I winner for Empire Maker, joining fellow Baffert trainees Pioneerof the Nile and Bodemeister. Storm Cat dams or granddams have produced three of Empre Maker's top-level winners (In Lingerie, Bodemeister). Eight Rings's Grade III-winning dam produced a colt by GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero Tourist (Tiznow) in 2018 and a filly by Pioneerof the Nile this past Apr. 19. Purely Hot was most recently bred to Union Rags.

Friday, Santa Anita
AMERICAN PHAROAH S.-GI, $301,404, Santa Anita, 9-27, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:45.41, ft.
1–EIGHT RINGS, 122, c, 2, by Empire Maker
1st Dam: Purely Hot (GSW, $426,905), by Pure Prize
2nd Dam: Wood Not, by Kissin Kris
3rd Dam: Wood So, by Baederwood
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. 'TDN Rising Star' ($520,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Frederick Hertrich III, John D Fielding & Golconda Stables; B-WinStar Farm LLC (KY); T-Bob Baffert; J-John R Velazquez. $180,000. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $216,951. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–American Theorem, 122, r, 2, American Pharoah–Mighty Renee, by Maria's Mon. ($190,000 RNA Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Kretz Racing LLC; B-Sierra Farm (KY); T-George Papaprodromou. $60,000.
3–Storm the Court, 122, c, 2, Court Vision–My Tejana Storm, by Tejano Run. ($5,000 Ylg '18 FTKFEB; $60,000 2yo '19 OBSAPR). O-David A Bernsen LLC, Exline-Border Racing LLC, Dan Hudock & Susanna Wilson; B-Stepping Stone Farm (KY); T-Peter Eurton. $36,000.
Margins: 6, 2 1/4, NK. Odds: 1.20, 7.30, 19.70.
Also Ran: Express Train, Shoplifted, Defense Wins, Fore Left, Nucky, Collusion Illusion.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.