American Pharoah gallops; Conquest Curlinate works

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner American Pharoah was out for his first gallop since his seven-length romp at Pimlico when going through a routine bit of training Friday at Churchill Downs.

Among the first horses out onto a freshly harrowed racetrack at 8:31 a.m. Eastern, and with regular exercise rider Jorge Alvarez up, American Pharoah backtracked to the seven-furlong pole on the clubhouse turn before turning around and quickly getting into his gallop.

He stayed about six or seven paths off the rail when moving at a steady clip in his usual effortless manner. Alvarez began pulling him up once they reached the backstretch for the second time, finally turning him around at about the five-furlong pole after giving the colt a couple of pats on the neck.

They turned around and met assistant trainer Jim Barnes aboard his pony at the 5 1/2-furlong gap to make the short walk back to Barn 33. The entire exercise took six minutes.

This was the second day back at the track for American Pharoah, who jogged an easy mile Thursday. The colt was flown back to Louisville from Baltimore on Monday.

American Pharoah is expected to ship June 2 or 3 to New York, where he will bid to become the 12th Triple Crown winner and the first since 1978.

Conquest Curlinate puts in work

Conquest Curlinate had his first workout since finishing second behind Madefromlucky in the May 9 Peter Pan Stakes when breezing five furlongs early Friday in 59.80 seconds at Churchill in company with his older stablemate Sky Captain.

Norman Casse, the son of and assistant to trainer Mark Casse, caught the colt in gallop-out times of 1:12.40 and 1:26 for six and seven furlongs while watching from the fourth-floor area with the Churchill clockers.

“I thought he worked awesome,” said Casse. “It was about as good as you can work here at Churchill.”

• Keen Ice, seventh in the Derby, could work “once or twice more” prior to the Belmont Stakes after breezing six furlongs Thursday at Churchill, said trainer Dale Romans.

“I’m still trying to decide whether to send him up a little early and get a work over the track there at Belmont,” said Romans.

• War Story, 16th in the Derby, will work Tuesday or Wednesday at Churchill, said trainer Tom Amoss. The colt already has breezed twice since the Derby. Colby Hernandez has been named to ride War Story in the Belmont Stakes.