Fans flock to get close-up look at American Pharoah

ARCADIA, Calif. - American Pharoah did not race at Santa Anita on Saturday, but he was the star of a 10-race program that included four graded stakes.

Between the seventh and eighth races, American Pharoah was paraded in the walking ring and onto the racetrack before an enthusiastic crowd that track officials estimated at 20,000. In some places on the path from the walking ring to the racetrack, racing fans of all ages were lined up six to eight deep to get a close-up look at the 2015 Triple Crown winner.

When American Pharoah walked onto the racetrack, in full view of the audience in the grandstand and clubhouse, he received a boisterous cheer. American Pharoah was paraded before the clubhouse and then into the winner’s circle, where a photo was taken of the colt along with jockey Victor Espinoza, trainer Bob Baffert, and assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes and their friends and families.

American Pharoah was walked in a circle for a few times in the winner’s circle before he stood in the ideal position for the photo. That may have been the only thing that American Pharoah did not get right on the first try this year.

After the photo was taken, American Pharoah was walked down the grandstand and back to the barn area. Some of the audience walked down the grandstand apron at the same pace as American Pharoah, taking photos along the way.

“It’s special to have a horse like American Pharoah,” Baffert said at the end of the winner’s circle celebration. “It’s special to see the fans who came out and got behind him.

“The horse has handled it really well. I’m glad the fans got a chance to see him today. He’s not only a great athlete, but he has a great mind. This is sort of a hard act to follow for the rest of the year.”

Owned by Ahmed Zayat, American Pharoah has been based with Baffert’s stable at Santa Anita since June 18, and has been galloping on a regular basis in the last week. American Pharoah has not had a workout since he clinched the Triple Crown with an historic win in the Belmont Stakes on June 6.

Baffert has yet to finalize a race plan for American Pharoah this summer, but has mentioned a race on the first weekend of August. Two opportunities are races previously discussed as potential starts – the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 1, or the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on Aug. 2.