The effortless speed American Pharoah flashed in a dominating performance in the William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes on August 2 was on display again on Sunday morning during an easy workout at Del March.
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The homebred 3-year-old Pioneerof the Nile colt had jockey Martin Garcia in the irons, as is the usual routine for his workouts, and enjoyed a track closed between 7:45-7:50 a.m. for all but him and horses training for the Pacific Classic.
“There is always pressure when you have a horse like this”, Baffert said. “When he’s got horses all around him, he gets keyed up”.
Other nominees who have faced American Pharoah previously are Frammento, 11th in the Derby and fifth in the Belmont; Far Right, second in the Arkansas Derby and 15th in the Kentucky Derby; and Mr. Z, third in the Arkansas Derby, 13th in the Derby and fifth in the Preakness.
Upstairs on the sixth floor of the Del Mar grandstand, head clocker John Malone and his crew registered the work.
Official split times from the clockers were::12.40, :24.60, :35.80 and:59.80 and 1:13.60 on the gallop out. “I watch this horse and he tells me what is going on”.
Triple Crown hero American Pharoah tops a list of 16 sophomores nominated to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 29 at Saratoga Race Course.
After saying that, Garcia came up on the walkie-talkie and said some things in Spanish to Baffert, who just smiled. “Everything has been positive so far”. As long as he has a hold of that bit and his ears are forward and looking around while he’s in cruise control, turns around and jogs back.
“Good thing he doesn’t have to run”, Baffert said.
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DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) – Triple Crown champion American Pharoah worked a half-mile Sunday at Del Mar under the watchful eye of trainer Bob Baffert and owner Ahmed Zayat. A little while later, a sign appeared on the giant Infield screen telecast from Saratoga staing the Travers Stakes has “Sold Out”.
