American Pharoah impressive in final Belmont Stakes work
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner American Pharoah completed his outstanding preparation for the Belmont with a final five-furlong breeze under Martin Garcia that was timed in 1:00.08 by DRF clocker Mike Welsch.
American Pharoah was to leave Churchill at 10 a.m. Tuesday for the short ride to Louisville International Airport, with departure on an equine air charter to New York scheduled for 11:30.
About 30 minutes after the work, trainer Bob Baffert addressed a large gathering of media while standing in a steady drizzle.
“Everything went really well this morning,” said Baffert. “The track was in perfect shape. It went just as we thought it would – he just kept clicking right along. Now we just play the waiting game.”
Baffert said he and his staff are braced for the media onslaught that awaits in New York.[bc_video_id:357394:]
“We’re sort of used to running in these big races,” he said. “As long as we’re prepared for the race – that’s the main thing. We know what to do. But yeah, we know what we’re walking into. We’re not going to be overwhelmed by it.”