Thursday: amusing Cide, the Saratoga Springs-bred horse who won the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, appears 11:30 a.m.to 12:15 p.m.at the race course paddock. His trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has had a sensational meet and figures to be able to move Frosted up in his second race off a layoff dating back to his runner-up finish to American Pharoah in the Belmont Stakes. Accompanying the world’s most popular horse were his constant traveling companions, assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes and Smokey the buckskin pony, who recently recovered from a minor leg injury.
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A fan left a dozen roses in a vase on a table in the courtyard by American Pharoah’s barn. Still, that 10 ½-hour stall-to-stall trek was faster than the 12 hours it took the champ to be transported to Monmouth Park for the Haskell Invitational four weeks ago. “Traveling with Pharoah, they make it very convenient for us. We’re like the last one to show up to the plane and the first one off. Everybody’s been very cooperative with that”.
“We’re used to this”, added Barnes of the reception American Pharoah received when he arrived.
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What you’re about to read is not a prediction of American Pharoah being “upset” in the Travers, but merely speculation of what might be possible if American Pharoah were to run his worse race to date on Saturday and his competitors were to run their best. “He’s shipped so many times now, he’s a pro”. They will create a thrilling narrative all their own this weekend, but for the “hay” of it let’s go inside the numbers…. “You do not have to go just to Saratoga just to be a part of the action”, said John Durso, NYRA communications director. “He pretty much gained weight, so it hasn’t been an issue”. “You put him in the stall and he’s not nervous. He really never has a nervous moment”. His training plans are firm for August 28, when American Pharoah is expected to gallop before a large crowd of spectators during a training session reserved for Travers entrants, from 8:45 to 9:00 a.m. Admission will be free of charge for fans wishing to see the Triple Crown victor that morning. He is aboard Keen Ice who will facing American Pharoah for the 4 time this year.
