Pharoah’s schedule ‘a work in progress’

DEL MAR, Calif. – While the immediate schedule for American Pharoah is certain, his itinerary between now and the Breeders’ Cup Classic is a work in progress.

American Pharoah returned to Del Mar from Saratoga on Monday afternoon, walked Tuesday at the barn of trainer Bob Baffert, and was scheduled to do so again Wednesday. He was scheduled to return to the track to jog Thursday, and on Sunday, between races here, the Triple Crown winner will be paraded for fans.

Next Tuesday, American Pharoah will head up to Santa Anita, where Baffert is based when Del Mar is not running, and it is there where he will train. Although owner Ahmed Zayat said Saturday, after American Pharoah lost the Travers, that he was leaning “60-40” toward retirement, it appears American Pharoah will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland, and Baffert said Tuesday that he could even have a prep race, though he emphasized it’s “too soon to make that call.”

“He came back good, a little light, but that’s him,” said Baffert, who said he’d be confident training American Pharoah straight into the Breeders’ Cup if he ended up believing that was the most prudent way to get to the Classic.

As for the Travers itself, in which American Pharoah finished second to Keen Ice, Baffert said, “It’s over with. He just got beat. Time to move on.”

“He ran a good race. He didn’t give it up. He shook that other horse off,” Baffert said, referring to Frosted. “We took a shot and almost pulled it off. The race doesn’t diminish him at all. It kills you to see him get beat. I just felt bad for the horse.”

Baffert said the reception he got in Saratoga both before and after the race was heartwarming.

“After the race, we went to eat at the Wishing Well,” Baffert said, referring to the popular restaurant just north of the city, “and we got a standing ovation when we walked in. People were coming up and saying, ‘Thanks for bringing the horse.’ ”

Regardless of his schedule between now and the Breeders’ Cup, American Pharoah won’t race after the Classic. He will be retired to Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky.