American Pharoah gallops at Churchill

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – At Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner American Pharoah was out Friday morning for his first gallop since his Tuesday breeze, going through a 10-minute exercise routine that included a brief schooling session in the starting gate.

On a pleasant morning, and over a surface freshly harrowed for him and Keen Ice – the only other Belmont prospect who remains here – American Pharoah walked onto the track at the 5 1/2-furlong gap at precisely 8:30 a.m. Eastern with Jorge Alvarez aboard. Assistant trainer Jim Barnes, aboard the stable pony, accompanied the colt in a counterclockwise jog toward the quarter pole, where American Pharoah was loaded in without incident.

The colt then stood quietly for less than a minute before being backed out. He then got into his gallop, proceeding about seven furlongs before rejoining with the pony near the quarter pole and jogging back to the exit gap. The entire routine took 10 minutes.

All in all, it was just another great morning for a colt who is showing every sign that he’s ready to take on all comers in the Belmont.

This was the first gallop for American Pharoah after a Tuesday workout in which he was officially timed in 48 seconds for a half-mile. Trainer Bob Baffert was here for that work and is scheduled to return this weekend from his Southern California base to oversee a final prerace work Sunday or Monday.

American Pharoah is among the Churchill horses booked on a Tuesday flight from Louisville International Airport to New York. The flight is scheduled to depart around 10:30 a.m. Eastern.

As for Keen Ice, he jogged a mile in his first day back since breezing here Wednesday. He also will be on the Tuesday charter.