American Pharoah ready to go after fast work

DEL MAR, Calif. – Bob Baffert said American Pharoah was “a happy guy” on Monday morning here at Del Mar, the day after a strong workout sealed the Triple Crown winner’s participation in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday.

American Pharoah walked at Baffert’s barn on Monday, which is standard operating procedure the day after a workout. Immediately following his walk, American Pharoah got a new pair of shoes.

“He just got shod,” Baffert said. “New Nikes.”

American Pharoah was scheduled to jog at Del Mar on Tuesday and then early Wednesday morning was to be put on a plane bound for Saratoga, where he was expected to arrive Wednesday afternoon with assistant trainer Jim Barnes alongside.

Baffert himself will not head to Saratoga until Thursday.

Saratoga will mark the sixth straight different track at which American Pharoah will have made a start this year, all outside his home base of California. After two races at Oaklawn, including the Arkansas Derby, he won the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, the Preakness at Pimlico, the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park, and, most recently, the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth.

Despite the itinerary, Baffert said, “It’s amazing how he holds his form.”

American Pharoah certainly showed no signs of tailing off during his preparation for the Travers. His work on Sunday was brilliant, the kind of work Baffert wanted to see before committing to the Travers. American Pharoah flew through a seven-furlong drill in 1:23.20 while inhaling another trainer’s team that had broken off well in front of American Pharoah.

“That was a pretty incredible work,” Baffert said. “But he’s a pretty incredible horse.”

American Pharoah came onto the track immediately after the 7:45 a.m. renovation break on Sunday before a large crowd of more than 1,000 people, including his race jockey, Victor Espinoza. Accompanied by a pony, American Pharoah backtracked with jockey Martin Garcia – his regular work rider – to just past the finish line, then turned around and jogged with the pony around the clubhouse turn.

He was turned loose at the five-furlong pole and began his work at the 4 1/2-furlong pole. Del Mar association clocker Dane Nelson had American Pharoah’s splits as 23 seconds, 47.20, 58.80, and 1:10.60. American Pharoah galloped out with enthusiasm.

“Is he ready to go a mile and a quarter?” Baffert, referencing the Travers distance, asked Garcia via radio.

“Si,” was the reply.

“That was very positive, very positive,” Baffert said. “That’s what we wanted to see, to see that he still has that energy. We needed to see something like this.

“I’ve never seen anything like him. I’m glad he ended up in my barn.”