On Saturday, American Pharoah won the 141st Kentucky Derby.
On Sunday, I snuck onto the backside at Churchill Downs for an exclusive one-on-one interview with the bay colt.
Here’s what he had to say. Call it straight talk straight from the horse’s mouth.
Q: You had an impressive run, did the race go as you thought it would?
A: Yes and no. I won, so yes to that part, but I had myself and Dortmund in a $200 exacta, so that nag Firing Line ruined that.
Q: How did you celebrate your victory?
A: We had a little get-together here at the barn Saturday night after the track closed.
Q: Any celebrities show up?
A: Maybe, maybe not (he winks). I really wanted to meet Tom Brady and Gronk, but I heard they had somewhere else to be.
Q: I figured you for a Colts fan, you’re not?
A: No, I love the Patriots. Brady’s a stud, although I’m not sure about his wardrobe choice Saturday, was he really wearing an ascot?
Q: Yeah I saw that Brady and those guys flew to Vegas after the race for the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, did you happen to see it?
A: We had it on in the barn, but I didn’t really watch it. You humans and your boxing, I never understood the draw. Two men beating on each other, it’s just so inhumane. I heard the fight was a joke anyway.
Q: Back to your party for a second, I heard you had a, um, special guest. Is it true that (Kentucky Oaks winner) Lovely Maria was here?
A: (In his best English accent) Damn fine filly. I think I’m in there.
Q: Your victory gave your trainer, Bob Baffert, his fourth Derby win, what do you think of him?
A: He’s got one of the best heads of hair I’ve ever seen on a human. I wish my mane was that shiny and lustrous.
Q: It’s been 37 years since we’ve had a Triple Crown winner [Affirmed in 1978], is that streak finally going to end this year?
A: If I have anything to say about it.
Q: Some people have said that winning the Derby, Preakness and Belmont is almost impossible in this day and time, what do you think of that?
A: That’s humansh--. Interview over.
Photo: Adam Creech
