American Pharoah effortless in half-mile work

ARCADIA, Calif. – American Pharoah worked a half-mile in 47.60 seconds at Santa Anita on Monday, displaying minimal effort in an exercise that moves the Triple Crown winner closer to a start in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2.

Working alone under jockey Martin Garcia, American Pharoah galloped out five furlongs in 59.60 seconds, according to Santa Anita clockers. Trainer Bob Baffert recorded slightly quicker times: 24 seconds for the first quarter-mile and 47.40 for a half-mile. Baffert timed American Pharoah galloping out in 59.80.

Garcia, American Pharoah’s regular exercise rider this year, said the colt has changed in recent months.

“He’s better and better, more mature after all those big races,” Garcia said.

Baffert said a nearly effortless workout was expected from American Pharoah, who races for breeder Ahmed Zayat.

“The only time he was urged was in the Derby,” Baffert said.

American Pharoah won the Kentucky Derby by a length over Firing Line, the closest any rival has come to beating him in his five races this year.

Monday’s workout was the second for American Pharoah this summer. He had a brief break after winning the final leg of the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes on June 6 and has had an increasingly active training schedule in the last three weeks. American Pharoah worked three furlongs in 36.40 seconds June 29. Baffert said Monday’s workout was needed after American Pharoah showed signs of wanting to exercise more in recent days.

“It was like a maintenance work,” Baffert said. “Yesterday, he was getting frisky in his stall, and I could tell he wanted to work. He’s sharpening.”

American Pharoah will be sent to Del Mar with the majority of Baffert’s horses next week, but there is time for an additional workout at Santa Anita on Sunday. Until then, Baffert said there will be mornings when American Pharoah is jogged or galloped.

“I’ll get one more in him” before Del Mar, he said. “We change it up.”

American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years with his sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. He has won 7 of 8 starts and earned $4,530,300.