The American Pharoah Stakes Presented by DK Horse Saturday at Santa Anita Park is Southern California’s first two-turn dirt stakes race for 2-year-old males aiming to earn a “Win and You’re In” berth in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Presented by TAA at the end of October and to hopefully compete in next spring’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve.

The Grade 1 was originally named the Norfolk Stakes before changing to the FrontRunner Stakes in 2012. In 2018, it was renamed after 2014 race winner American Pharoah, who went on to sweep horse racing’s Triple Crown the next year.  That Hall of Fame racehorse was trained by fellow Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who trains four of the six listed entrants for Saturday’s renewal.

Baffert has won this race a record 13 times, including six out of the past eight runnings. Safe to say he’s got a good chance for another dub.

1. Dang Son: He’s 1-for-3 so far and his only win came in his only two-turn race, which was on turf. He comes in off of a distant third-place finish behind Hughes in the Del Mar Futurity held at seven furlongs and will need to take a big forward leap to have a chance at winning this race. Good pedigree for stretching out, though.

JOCKEY: Emisael Jaramillo; TRAINER: Doug O’Neill

2. Hughes: Not only has he won all three of his starts to date, he hasn’t really been challenged yet. Took both of Del Mar’s graded sprint stakes on dirt for juvenile males, the Best Pal Stakes and Del Mar Futurity, by widening margins. He should relish the extra distance based on pedigree and is the clear favorite in this spot despite the presence of talented stablemates.

JOCKEY: Juan Hernandez; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

3. Net Par: California-bred has a pair of wins in four races, all at sprint distances, and in his two defeats he stumbled at the start. He’s been running against fellow state-breds, though. This is a big class test that’ll be tough to pass.

JOCKEY: Victor Espinoza; TRAINER: Antonio Garcia

4. Imperial Honor: Comes in off of a visually impressive first-out maiden win going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar on the track’s Sept. 7 closing Labor Day card. This close relative to current turf star Deterministic defeated nine opponents and the sky appears to be the limit. Note that Juan Hernandez, who was aboard in his debut, chooses to ride Hughes.

JOCKEY: Joel Rosario; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

5. Emancipate: Finished fourth in his rough-trip debut and was then was bumped and had to steady at the quarter pole of a six-furlong Del Mar maiden race, which he won anyway.  Very well-bred with a female family that suggests a mile might be his preferred distance.

JOCKEY: Mike Smith; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

6. Domus: Won his debut impressively sprinting at Del Mar but then finished a distant fourth of five behind Hughes and Dang Son in the Del Mar Futurity. Has a chance at the upset against this small field if he rebounds – like his Baffert-trained foes, he’s got a solid pedigree.

JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Bob Baffert

THE PICK: Imperial Honor

LIVE LONGSHOT: Dang Son

TRIFECTA: 4-2-6