American Anthem

American Anthem won his career debut on Dec. 3, 2016, in a three-quarter-mile sprint for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. He came back in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes in his second start and battled Gormley gamely through the stretch but was edged at the finish line in a gutsy runner-up finish. He then finished unplaced in both the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes and Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.

American Anthem bounced back in a big when when cutting back in distance and taking step back in class for the Grade 3 Lazaro Barerra Stakes at Santa Anita. He took command in the stretch and scooted to a convincing victory. He followed with another impressive victory on the Belmont Stakes undercard when he surged clear as the 1.95-1 favorite to win the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes by 3 1/4 lengths. In his next start, American Anthem finished third behind Practical Joke and Takaful in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes on Aug. 26 at Saratoga. He closed out his 3-year-old season with a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes.

American Anthem was given a long break from training and returned to the races eight months later with an allowance victory at Churchill Downs on June 1. He shipped back to Santa Anita Park later in June and won the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven-eighths of a mile.

American Anthen is out of the winning A.P. Indy mare Indy's Windy, a half sister to 1998 champion 3-year-old filly Banshee Breeze.