Meet the Contenders: 2025 American Pharoah
Desert Gate wins the Best Pal Stakes. (Photo by horsephotos.com)
October 1st, 2025
Meet the horses running in the American Pharoah S. (G1) at Santa Anita. For each horse, we're listing a pro, a con, and a rating of potential. The star rating of 1 to 5 represents the opportunity to perform well. Be sure to follow these contenders by adding them to your stable alerts.
Desert Gate wins the Best Pal Stakes. (Photo by horsephotos.com)
#1 Desert Gate *****
Pro: Most accomplished of the Baffert quartet; strong second in Del Mar Futurity (G1).
Con: Few knocks against, other than the short price.
TwinSpires
#2 Intrepido ***
Pro: Broke better second out and won against a promising field.
Con: Has other speed to contend with if he flashes similar tactics this time.
TwinSpires
#3 Plutarch ***
Pro: Second best in both starts, including Del Mar Juvenile Turf (G3).
Con: Off to a real slow start in stakes try, and can’t afford a repeat of that.
TwinSpires
#4 Civil Liberty **
Pro: Placed against Brant in the first two starts and avoids him this time.
Con: Has several lengths to make up on Desert Gate off Futurity try.
TwinSpires
#5 Balboa **
Pro: Like Civil Liberty, both losses have come against the absent Brant.
Con: Ran to longshot expectations in the Del Mar Futurity; this is not much easier.
Kristofferson wins at Del Mar. (Photo by horsephotos.com)
#6 Kristofferson ****
Pro: Prevailed after being hounded throughout in debut; earned nice fig.
Con: Sure to improve, though concedes experience to Baffert stablemates.
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