The 2026 American Pharoah Stakes is set for Saturday, October 3 at Santa Anita Park, and a talented group of 2-year-olds will take center stage in this important Grade 1 event.
The $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes will be contested at 1 1/16 miles on the dirt, with the winner earning a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland.
One of the major storylines is undefeated Hughes, the Bob Baffert trainee who enters off a dominant victory in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity. He now faces his first two-turn test in the American Pharoah.
In this video, we’ll break down the field, key contenders, trainers and jockeys, recent form, and the horses who could emerge as major players on the road to the 2027 Kentucky Derby.
