Eight Rings led gate to wire in the Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes on Friday at Santa Anita, making amends for the Del Mar Futurity debacle early this month in which he lost his rider at the start as the odds-on favorite.

Eight Rings and John Velazquez made no mistakes Friday, wiring the field by six lengths in a deliberate 1:45.41 for a mile and a sixteenth. American Theorem chased throughout and finished second, two and one-quarter lengths in front of third-place finisher Storm the Court. The order of finish was completed by by Express Train, Shoplifted, Defense Wins, Fore Left and Nucky. Collusion Illusion eased.

Eight Rings $4.40 gave Bob Baffert and Velazquez their second Grade 1 on the Santa Anita opening day card. Earlier, they won the Chandelier Stakes with Bast. Eight Rings, now 2-for-3 is expected to make his next start in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.