RUN FOR THE ROSES

Two days after running away from his competition in the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. I), the ultra-impressive American Pharoah was on the move once again April 13, arriving in Louisville for a much-anticipated appearance in the May 2 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Trainer Bob Baffert, speaking on "The Roger Stein Show" radio program the morning after the April 11 tour de force performance in Hot Springs, Ark., said that the son of Pioneerof the Nile   had exited the Arkansas Derby just fine.

Baffert's assistant Jim Barnes accompanied American Pharoah to Kentucky and said the colt looks to have traveled well. He was settled into Barn 33 at Churchill.

"He's a good traveler," Barnes said. "The reason why we came here so early is that we were already halfway here. You don't want to go back to California and then come back to Churchill."

Barnes said American Pharoah won't need much training over the Churchill Downs track to be ready for the Kentucky Derby.

"We're at Churchill and he'll just take it easy," Barnes said. "He doesn't need to do much. He'll breeze one time before the race."

Baffert will be going for his fourth Kentucky Derby victory with the trio of American Pharoah, Dortmund, and One Lucky Dane.

But it was Zayat Stable's American Pharoah, just one week after Dortmund crushed the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), who was all the rage after winning at Oaklawn Park by eight lengths.

"We learned so much about him. American Pharoah isn't one-dimensional," Baffert said on the radio program. "(Jockey) Victor (Espinoza) was able to shut him down and he dropped the bit. That was the most impressive thing. He won't be in the danger zone if there's a speed duel in the Derby.

"Victor rode him with so much confidence. He knew he had a lot of horse and more (gears) there if he needs them. The horse is ridiculously talented."

Baffert, however, has been just as pleased at the progression made by the undefeated Dortmund, a son of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner Big Brown   owned by Kaleem Shah.

"The Santa Anita Derby was nothing for him," Baffert said. "He came out of it great and I think the two of them are pretty close to each other."

With this potent 1-2 punch, Baffert nevertheless made it clear there is a long road yet to travel.

"You still need racing luck," he said. "We're allowed to dream in Technicolor, but it all has to go well. You take nothing for granted and go there like they're 10-1. With 20 horses anything can happen. Look at Point Given.

"I heard that UK (basketball coaches) showed films of Secretariat to their team. I'm going to show my crew the UK-Wisconsin (basketball) game to keep them on their toes."

Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/91235/american-pharoah-arrives-in-louisville#ixzz3XPokhodt