American Pharoah bound for Travers after strong work

DEL MAR, Calif. – American Pharoah is taking his talents to Saratoga.

A brilliant work on Sunday at Del Mar was what trainer Bob Baffert wanted to see in order to commit to the Travers Stakes on Saturday, and a brilliant work is what he got, as the Triple Crown winner flew through a seven-furlong drill in 1:23.20 while inhaling another trainer’s team who had broken off well in front of American Pharoah.

“That was a pretty incredible work,” Baffert said. “But he’s a pretty incredible horse.”

Baffert said as long as American Pharoah cooled out of the work well and was fine Monday morning, he was going to the Travers. American Pharoah is scheduled to travel to New York on Wednesday.

“His bags are packed,” Baffert said. “If you have seats at Saratoga, I wouldn’t sell them yet.”

American Pharoah came onto the track immediately after the 7:45 a.m. renovation break, before a large crowd well over 1,000 people. Accompanied by a pony, he backtracked with jockey Martin Garcia to just past the finish line, then turned around and jogged with the pony around the clubhouse turn.

He was turned loose at the five-furlong pole and began his work at the 4 1/2-furlong pole. Del Mar association clocker Dane Nelson had American Pharoah’s splits as 23 seconds, 47.20, 58.80, and 1:10.60. American Pharoah galloped out with enthusiasm.

“Is he ready to go a mile and a quarter?” Baffert, referencing the Travers distance, asked Garcia via radio.

“Si,” was the reply.

“That was very positive, very positive,” Baffert said. “That’s what we wanted to see, to see that he still has that energy. We needed to see something like this. I’ve never seen anything like him. I’m glad he ended up in my barn.”