The Pizza Man finished eighth in his first and only start as a two-year-old, a six-furlong race on the dirt at Hawthorne Park on December 31, 2011. The Pizza Man was switched to the turf course at Hawthorne for his first start as a three-year-old on April 13, 2012, and responded with a -length win. He followed up with two allowance race wins at
Arlington Park in May and June. He then took a step up in class when he was entered in the Grade III
American Derby in July, but finished sixth. He returned to the winner's circle in an allowance race at Arlington in August, then finished the year with wins in two Illinois-bred restricted stakes races, the Tex's Zing in September and the Buck Boy in October. With a record of six wins from seven starts, The Pizza Man was named the 2012 Illinois-bred champion three-year-old. For the -mile marathon, he faced a strong field of horses from across not only North America but Europe as well, including the previous year's winner Dandino (GB) and the favorite, Eye of the Storm (IRE). The Pizza Man and Eye of the Storm raced just behind the early pace, then made their move entering the final turn. The Pizza Man drew away from Eye of the Storm then withstood a late run from Dandino to win by a length. "I had the perfect race," said Dandino's jockey
Frankie Dettori. "Turning in I thought we would win, but (The Pizza Man) never stopped. He ran really hard to the line. He's coming back to form now." The Pizza Man then shipped to
Woodbine racetrack in Toronto to take on Grade I company for the first time in the
Northern Dancer Turf Stakes. He stalked the pace, then started to make a run in the stretch but "evened out" and was passed by several late closers, finishing fifth. He then started in the
Canadian International, also at Woodbine, held on October 19. He raced just off the pace and took the lead entering the stretch. He was passed by other horses in mid-stretch but continued to chase, finishing fourth. His final start of the year was in the Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar in late November, where he finished third. The horse made his 2015 debut on May 30 in the Opening Verse Stakes at Churchill Downs, winning the -mile race by lengths. On July 11, he returned to Arlington to defend his title in the Stars and Stripes as the 4–5 favorite. He raced behind a slow pace set by Roman Approval then made his move and hit the lead in mid-stretch. Roman Approval fought back and the two dueled to the wire, with The Pizza Man prevailing by a neck. For his next start in August, Papiese chose to enter the gelding in the Grade I
Arlington Million rather than attempt to defend his title in the American St. Leger. Papiese felt confident despite the world-class field in the Million. "He has never been better," he said. "I respect all of the people here — all the great owners and trainers and jockeys — and all of the horses we're running against, but I wouldn't trade places with anybody." The Pizza Man became the first Illinois-bred to win the Arlington Million. On October 3, The Pizza Man was entered in the
Shadwell Turf Mile at
Keeneland. Racing at the back of the field in the early going, he closed "like a freight train" down the stretch and fell just short, finishing a head behind Grand Arch. "He couldn’t keep up early, so I let him settle," said Geroux. "When I asked him to run, it took him a little bit longer than usual because the race is shorter, but the last quarter of a mile he was flying." The Pizza Man was next entered in the
Breeders' Cup Turf on October 31, where he faced an outstanding field headed by
Golden Horn, winner of the
Derby and
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and
Found, a three-year-old filly who had run second in the
Irish Champion and
Champion Stakes. The Pizza Man was no match for these two but finished a creditable fifth. "No excuse," said Geroux. "We were right behind Golden Horn all the way. I had the filly stuck on my inside. Turning for home he made a little run, but just got tired." Papiese had planned to send the Pizza Man overseas to contest the
Japan Cup but the gelding came down with a lung infection and would not have been able to recover in time. Instead, he traveled to
Del Mar, California for the
Hollywood Turf Cup on November 26. Ridden by new jockey
Mike Smith, he won by two lengths as the heavy favorite. "Mike let him run his race, and when he gets to run his race, he's tough to beat," said Papiese. "Mike said he was going to be eight to 10 lengths off of it, and I said, 'You're going to love the afterburners when they kick in.'" The Pizza Man finished the year with four wins and a second from six starts. The Illinois Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Foundation honored him as the 2015 Illinois-bred Champion Turf Male, Champion Handicap Male, and Illinois Horse of the Year. He finished third in the
Eclipse Award balloting for North American Champion Turf Male with 41 votes, behind Great Britain's
Golden Horn and winner Big Blue Kitten.
2016: seven-year-old season The Pizza Man started his seven-year-old campaign with a fifth-place finish in the
Gulfstream Park Handicap on February 6, 2016. "He really didn't like the
Gulfstream turf at all,” said Brueggemann. "That was the first time I had him on something that he didn't like. We're hoping he can still compete as a year older but I know how I feel when I'm a year older." He then suffered three more losses in a row, placing fourth in the
Wise Dan in June, fourth in the Stars and Stripes in July, and sixth in the Arlington Million. The Pizza Man next entered the
Canadian International at Woodbine on October 16, finishing fourth behind Irish-bred Erupt. He finished the year with a third-place finish in the River City Handicap. The Pizza Man rated close behind a slow early pace then made his move in the final turn, hitting the lead in mid-stretch. Near the finish line though he was caught by Keystoneforvictory, who went on to win by lengths. "He felt good", said Geroux. "Turning for home I thought I was going to get the win, but the one horse just ran him down the last eighth of a mile. He ran great, I think he's improved on his last race and I think he's moving in the right direction. He's a little bit older now and it might take him a bit longer to get to his top form." == Retirement ==