American Pharoah gallops in preparation for Sunday workout

DEL MAR Calif. – Triple Crown winner American Pharoah galloped 1 1/2 miles at Del Mar on Friday, two days before a scheduled workout on Sunday morning.

Ridden by Manny Avila, American Pharoah had a relatively routine morning Friday. He arrived on the track at 7:45 a.m. and was jogged on the outside rail to the eighth pole before stopping. For the next five minutes, Avila and American Pharoah did a bunch of nothing. American Pharoah stood facing the racetrack as scores of horses galloped, jogged, and had workouts on the main track.

After a while, Avila turned American Pharoah toward the finish line, and the colt began galloping at a steady pace while staying well off the rail. American Pharoah galloped 1 1/2 circuits of the one-mile racetrack before being pulled up on the backstretch.

Owned by Zayat Stables and trained by Bob Baffert, American Pharoah has not raced since winning the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2.

Sunday’s workout could lead to an announcement of American Pharoah’s next start. The Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 29 is a possibility.