Ahmed Zayat of Teaneck, owner of the 3-year-old bay colt, pockets the $1 million winner’s share if American Pharoah, established as an early morning 1-5 favorite, can beat a outclassed field in a warm-up for the Travers Stakes at Saratoga or whatever final Breeders’ Cup Classic prep race he runs in late August or early September.
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The newest Triple Crown victor is running in Sunday’s William Hill Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park and is due to run its last race on October. 31 at the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. Trainer Bob Baffert has said he has made no decision on American Pharaoah’s future races beyond the Haskell.
Four consecutive wins to start career before finishing sixth in Belmont undercard race. “We owe it to the horse to have him ready for a peak performance”.
Everyone assumes that American Pharoah will ensure that a new attendance record will be set eclipsing the previous mark of 53,638 in 2003 when amusing Cide finished third. “Whatever happened in the Derby stays in the Derby, because he didn’t run”, said trainer Rick Violette, speaking to the Blood-Horse. “And so the key is going to be how well does the horse do on Sunday and how does he come out of it”.
Kay said Saratoga will cap attendance for the Travers if American Pharoah arrives, just as NYRA did for his win in the Belmont Stakes.
“We thought this was the right thing to do”.
“And if Pharoah stubs his toe…we know he’s a special horse, one of the best we’ve seen in a long time, but he’s had a gruelling year”.
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There have been plenty worse Grade 1s this season than this $200,000 contest in which reigning champion filly Untapable (Steve Asmussen/John Velazquez) tries to concede 3lb to high-class opponent Stopchargingmaria (Todd Pletcher/Javier Castellano).
