Pharoah flies home after Haskell romp; Travers could be next

OCEANPORT, N.J. – American Pharoah left Monmouth Park on Monday morning bound for his summer home at Del Mar, where he will train for his next start, a decision that trainer Bob Baffert and owner Ahmed Zayat won’t make until they see how he comes out of the race when he returns to the track later this week.

But based on the ease with which American Pharoah won the Haskell Invitational on Sunday and how he appeared Monday morning, just about anything would seem to be on the table for the Triple Crown winner, who began his post-Triple Crown campaign with a dominating performance in which he earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 109.

American Pharoah usually walks three days after a race, then returns to the track on Day 4 before galloping anew on Day 5. If that schedule holds following this race, American Pharoah would be back on the track at Del Mar for a jog Thursday before galloping Friday.

At a post-race press conference here, Baffert said he preferred at this stage of American Pharoah’s career to remain against fellow 3-year-olds rather than taking on older horses just yet. If that is the case, the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 22 is a longshot, though Del Mar management will put on a full-court press to entice him.

More likely, though, the options will boil down to the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Aug. 29 or the Grade 2 Pennsylvania Derby at Parx on Sept. 19. Both of those races are exclusively for 3-year-olds.

The Travers purse would be boosted to $1.6 million should American Pharoah run. In addition, it is known that when Zayat sold the breeding rights to American Pharoah to Coolmore months ago, there were certain achievements that would kick in additional money, such as a win in the Kentucky Derby. It can be assumed that the Travers would be part of that list.

The Pennsylvania Derby offers a big purse – $1 million – and a big bonus. According to the race conditions, victories in the Derby, Preakness, Belmont, and Haskell are each worth $50,000 in bonuses to both the trainer and owner, merely for running. That means Baffert and Zayat would get $200,000 each just for bringing American Pharoah to Parx, in addition to whatever American Pharoah would earn in the race.

If American Pharoah runs in the Travers, that would allow for one more prep after that before his final career start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31. If he runs in the Pennsylvania Derby, that likely would be his final start before the Classic, similar to the timetable Baffert used last year when winning both races with Bayern.

Those certain for or at least considering the Travers include Texas Red and Frosted, the one-two finishers from the Jim Dandy on Saturday at Saratoga; Keen Ice, who ran a good race in his own right when second to American Pharoah in the Haskell; Upstart, who was third in the Haskell; Curlin Stakes winner Smart Transition; and West Virginia Derby winner Madefromlucky.

Texas Red got a 105 Beyer for his Jim Dandy win. He has met American Pharoah once previously, in last fall’s FrontRunner Stakes, in which American Pharoah was first and Texas Red third. Texas Red emerged from that race to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, which American Pharoah missed with an injury that kept him from racing until March.

Frosted was second to American Pharoah in the Belmont Stakes when they last met. Kiaran McLaughlin, his trainer, said American Pharoah was “very impressive” in the Haskell.

“Did it as easy as one could do it,” said McLaughlin, who said Frosted lost his right front shoe in the early going of the Jim Dandy. “We have to train on and point for our race. I’ll talk to the Godolphin people,” he said, referring to the owner of Frosted, “and see. For now, we’re pointing that way.”

Baffert, assistant Jim Barnes, Zayat, and his family all flew back to California late Sunday night. Jorge Alvarez, American Pharoah’s exercise rider, and Enrique “Lalo” Luna, his groom, both were with the colt Monday morning and were to travel with him Monday. American Pharoah was to fly to the Ontario, Calif., airport before a van ride of about two hours down to Del Mar.

Alvarez on Monday morning said American Pharoah “finished all his food” and was feeling perfectly fine the day after the race.

“He did what he was supposed to do,” Alvarez said, standing outside American Pharoah’s stall. “You expect it, but you never know until they run the race. You never celebrate before. But this horse is something else. He put on a show.”

Alvarez said that many in American Pharoah’s camp were nervous before the race because they didn’t want to let the public, nor themselves, down.

“You start thinking too much. What if we get beat?” Alvarez said. “They came to see a Triple Crown winner. How would it look? If he loses, maybe I can’t fly home. Maybe I have to take the bus!”

Luna said he was far more anxious before the Belmont Stakes.

“Last time, Triple Crown, I was nervous,” he said. “Yesterday, I was relaxed.”

– additional reporting by David Grening