Two awards for American Pharoah, three for Zayat
The Day at the Races
Thursday's figures: On-track attendance, 9,530; on-track betting, $702,965; total betting including simulcast, $5,967,480.22.
This day last year: On-track attendance, 8,457; on-track betting, $657,949; total betting including simulcast, $6,132,016.
Coming up: Grade I winner and Eclipse Award finalist I’m a Chatterbox makes her first start since the Breeders’ Cup Distaff last October when she heads a field of nine entered in the Grade III, $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare Stakes going 1 1/16 miles. Also, Friday is Hall of Fame Jockey Day. The jockeys will participate in a Q and A session in the Keeneland Walking Ring at 12:05 p.m., then meet fans and sign autographs from 2-3 p.m. on the North Terrace.
Final furlong
▪ Unbeaten champion and current Kentucky Derby favorite Nyquist had another routine day, jogging twice around the Keeneland main track Thursday. Trainer Doug O’Neill said the plan is still to work the son of Uncle Mo on Friday but said the move could get pushed back to Saturday if inclement weather moves in.
▪ Multiple graded stakes winner Vyjack, a half-brother to champion turf female Tepin, earned his first victory since taking the Grade II Kelso Handicap in September 2014 when he prevailed in a blanket finish to win the day’s seventh race going 1 mile on the turf. Vyjack, a gelded son of Into Mischief, snapped a nine-race losing skid and notched his first win on the turf.
▪ Zayat Stables took home three awards Thursday at the KTOB’s annual Kentucky-bred Champions Award Luncheon held at Keeneland. Zayat homebred and 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was honored as the KY-Bred Horse of the Year and as Three-Year-Old Male. In addition, Zayat received an award honoring 2015 Broodmare of the Year Littleprincessemma, who was owned by Zayat Stables at the time she produced American Pharoah.
This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 7:48 PM with the headline "Two awards for American Pharoah, three for Zayat."