Tipsheet: 2026 American Pharoah Stakes

Trainer Bob Baffert has four of the six two-year-olds in the cast for Saturday’s $300,000 American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita. The winner of the 1 1/16-mile event will receive an automatic berth into the 2026 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 30.   

American Pharoah Stakes Picks

• #4 Imperial Honor
• #2 Hughes
• #5 Emancipate

American Pharoah Stakes Wager

• $20 trifecta key 4 with 2,5

American Pharoah Stakes Contenders

#1 DANG SON: Doug O’Neill pupil graduated on the lawn two back prior to coming in a distant third in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) in his stakes debut last time out. The son of Good Magic is bred for the distance and also has a nice slot on the fence to save ground, so he can grab a share late with improvement under Jaramillo. 

#2 HUGHES: Unbeaten Baffert charge is the first of four for the outfit and will be formidable if he aces his two-turn test on Saturday. The $675,000 son of Into Mischief was not tiring going seven-eighths at Del Mar last time, and the Grade-1 victor is a must-use with regular rider Juan Hernandez in the silks.

#3 NET PAR: Pavel Cal-bred was outrun when a well-beaten second in the I’m Smokin S. at Del Mar last time for trainer Antonio Garcia. The colt will face open foes and also run long for the first time, and he would be a big surprise in the small field beneath Victor Espinoza. 

#4 IMPERIAL HONOR: Upset pick dueled through quick splits before drawing off to a convincing debut offering and could be the one to catch stretching out in distance in this spot. The $725,000 son of Honor A. P. has posted a pair of five-eighths morning moves in preparation for his route bow and will be sent from the break under Joel Rosario. 

#5 EMANCIPATE: Mike Smith will ride the third Baffert pupil in the group. The Uncle Mo homebred graduated well in his second lifetime run over a solid prospect and has the running style of a route runner. The well-bred colt will likely track the pace and grind his way to the finish as a top-three contender at a number. 

#6 DOMUS: Baffert pupil, also an Uncle Mo homebred, was outrun in the Del Mar Futurity second time out, which followed a facile win at first asking. The March foal is better than he showed in his latest venture, and he has some appeal running long for the initial time on Saturday. Kimura has the assignment and will put the contender in the mix early from the outside post.