In 2009, Pioneerof the Nile exited his Derby runner-up finish full of confidence that he could upset Mine That Bird in the Preakness. However, his connections where disappointed with an uptrack finish to Rachel Alexandra. Three years later Bodemeister was once again run down by I'll Have Another in the final furlong. This year though it was different for the Zayats. Already redeemed by Pioneerof the Nile's son American Pharoah's win in the Derby, step two would be the Preakness.
4 horses (including former ownershipmate Mr. Z) would come out of the Derby to take on Pharoah. Also in the race would be a horse owned by Roy & Gretchen Jackson who where trying to put the memories of Barbaro's injury behind them and one owned by Charles Fipke whose long shots had run well in Derbies past (Divining Rod and Tale of Verve respectively). All eight horses though had to overcome a sudden downpour in rain just minutes before they broke from the gate.
American Pharoah took the lead early and it actually looked like he was going to be swallowed up by the field. Somehow, someway he pulled away from them to win by the second largest margin since Smarty Jones won the Preakness 11 years ago.
Tale of Verve (Tale of Ekati) was second and Divining Rod (Tapit) was third.
So now we head to the most difficult race of AP's career. A mile and a half stands between him and immortality. He will face a field of fresh horses plus Tale of Verve whose dam is 1/2 sisters with the dam of 2 G1 winners at Belmont AND whose broodmare sire is the same as his great-grandfather on his sire's side (Unbridled).
The Belmont hasn't been the kindest to his connections. Bob Baffert has been 1 for 4 with his Preakness winners in winning the Belmont (Point Given being his only winner), Victor Espinoza 0 for 2 with Derby and Preakness winners (the first jockey to go for a TC try 3 times), Zayats are also 0 for 2 including a heartbreaking loss to Union Rags with the horse with the most heart Paynter.
Some other thoughts:
I was wrong about Tale of Verve... should have known with his trainer.
Firing Line was no surprise
Mr. Z.... yeah
Danzig Moon... not as bad as Upstart still strike two on me
Rod's female family helped him there (turf horses sometimes love a muddy track)
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