American Pharoah in excellent condition following Belmont victory

ELMONT, N.Y. – American Pharoah, the Triple Crown winner, came out of his stirring Belmont Stakes victory Saturday in excellent condition, traveled back to Churchill Downs on Sunday for a two-week holiday, and will return to his usual base in Southern California before the remainder of his racing career is mapped out, trainer Bob Baffert said Sunday.

“This horse today, for a horse who ran a mile and a half yesterday, looked pretty darn good,” Baffert said.

American Pharoah has been based at Churchill Downs for nearly two months, since shortly after his victory in the Arkansas Derby. He will have some down time there, which includes being paraded Saturday night at Churchill Downs on the Stephen Foster Handicap card. Then, he will go back to California.

American Pharoah’s schedule has yet to be worked out, but Baffert mentioned races like the Haskell at Monmouth and Jim Dandy at Saratoga as potential starting points and also cited the Travers at Saratoga and Pacific Classic at Del Mar as being in the mix.

Both he and Ahmed Zayat, American Pharoah’s owner and breeder, reiterated American Pharoah will race through the end of this year.

“As long as he’s healthy,” Baffert said.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is the final goal. Zayat manages American Pharoah’s career through the end of this year. He has sold the colt’s breeding rights to Coolmore, which will manage American Pharoah beginning at age 4. It is highly unlikely a breeding operation like Coolmore would race American Pharoah at age 4.

On Sunday, Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza were on the “Today” show from Belmont Park. American Pharoah, with assistant Jim Barnes holding him, stood between them, sensible to the moment. He is remarkably calm on the track, especially considering what a competitor he is on the track.

“I’m still a little numb,” Baffert said. “I’m so proud of this beautiful animal. He’s so kind. He makes me look really, really smart.”

This was the fourth time Baffert had gone for a Triple Crown in the Belmont, having missed with Silver Charm, Real Quiet, and War Emblem.

“If he didn’t win yesterday, I was gonna take a bat to that Triple Crown trophy,” he said.

Espinoza said he didn’t get any sleep Saturday night.

“I stayed up all night just thinking about [American Pharoah’s win],” said Espinoza.

American Pharoah got a Beyer Speed Figure of 105.

Kiaran McLaughlin, the trainer of the runner-up Frosted, said he was proud of Frosted’s race and saluted American Pharoah.

“My horse ran his race,” he said. “We just picked the wrong year.”

McLaughlin said American Pharoah “is a special horse.”

“He does everything effortlessly,” McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin said the next major goal for Frosted will be the Travers at Saratoga, but how he gets there – whether he has a prep or goes straight into the race – is yet to be determined.