American Pharoah stirs excitement in half-mile work

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – American Pharoah had his first workout since his seven-length romp May 16 in the Preakness when breezing a half-mile in 48 seconds on a pleasant Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs in a move that left Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert excited about what lies ahead.

With jockey Martin Garcia aboard, American Pharoah was caught by Churchill clocker John Nichols in splits of 12.20, 24, and 35.80, with “out” times of 1:00.40 and 1:13.20 for five and six furlongs over a fast, freshly harrowed racetrack. All of it was done in the familiar effortless manner for which American Pharoah is becoming widely known.

“Actually, he was just galloping,” said Garcia.

The move brings American Pharoah one important step closer to the Belmont Stakes on June 6, when the colt is expected to face perhaps nine other 3-year-olds in his bid to become the 12th Triple Crown winner and the first since Affirmed in 1978. Baffert was nearly giddy about the workout and the overall demeanor of a colt who won the Kentucky Derby on May 2 by a hard-fought length before splashing home an easy winner in the Preakness.

“Just the way he did it – the right way,” said Baffert. “The way he’s moving – his fluid self.”

Baffert said he intends to send American Pharoah through a similar work again Sunday or Monday at Churchill, depending on weather. The colt will ship to New York via equine charter flight the morning of June 2. Baffert, who arrived here Monday night, was scheduled to return home to California later Tuesday, then come back here sometime over the weekend to oversee the final work.

Garcia, who frequently rides races for Baffert, has been a regular work rider for American Pharoah, although Victor Espinoza is the colt’s jockey. Garcia said the colt was eager to work Tuesday as they disengaged from assistant trainer Jim Barnes and the stable pony at the five-furlong pole before getting right down to business. By the half-mile pole, they were in full flight while remaining several paths off the inside rail, and even well past the wire, American Pharoah continued striding out willfully until Garcia asked him to start slowing down as they entered the backstretch at the six-furlong pole.

“I let him pull him up by himself,” said Garcia.

The workout drew by far the most onlookers at Churchill since the Preakness as about 100 media members and fans gathered at the 5 1/2-furlong gap to see American Pharoah enter and exit the track. Several hundred more fans were frontside as Churchill has been proactive in encouraging people to come watch racing’s latest star in his morning exercise.

Baffert said he is cognizant of his role in helping to promote the sport.

“It’s important with a horse of this caliber to have him represented well,” he said. “I feel like it’s my responsibility to let people know how the horse is doing. They want to know, and they deserve to know – all that love out there for him.”

Baffert said American Pharoah would walk the shed row Wednesday and also would be reshod. The colt then will jog Thursday and resume his daily gallops Friday until the final pre-race work.

Meanwhile, Keen Ice was the only other horse to join American Pharoah on the track during the special training session (8:30-8:45 a.m. Eastern) that Churchill is limiting to Belmont prospects. Keen Ice, trained by Dale Romans, jogged and galloped while virtually everyone fixed their eyes on American Pharoah.

A third Churchill-based colt pointing to the Belmont, Conquest Curlinate, was out early Tuesday to jog a mile and gallop a mile.