American Pharoah Schools, Back to Galloping

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Xpressbet Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner American Pharoah, preparing for an attempt at sweeping the Triple Crown in the 147th running of the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 6, had a schooling session in the Churchill Downs starting gate and resumed galloping around the mile oval May 29. 

Zayat Stables' homebred son of Pioneerof the Nile   went to the fast main track under regular exercise rider Jorge Alvarez at 8:30 a.m. during Churchill Downs' special 15-minute training session exclusive to Belmont Stakes contenders after the renovation break.

American Pharoah spent a brief period standing in the auxiliary starting gate at the top of the stretch and then galloped 1 1/8 miles, according to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's assistant Jimmy Barnes.

"Everything was great this morning—no problem," Alvarez said. "He looked real professional. This is good what they're doing, by closing the track for us and letting us train. That makes my job a lot easier."

Barnes said that American Pharoah would likely gallop 1 1/4 miles May 30 at 8:30 a.m.

"You see everything that you expect to see," Barnes said. "Nothing alarming; everything is super positive. This is absolutely normal going into any race the way that we're doing. We have really nothing to deal with other than keeping him happy. Everything is going smooth."

Baffert is scheduled to return to Louisville from his Southern California base Saturday night, and American Pharoah could breeze May 31 or June 1, with the former the more likely of the two, according to Barnes.

In other Belmont Stakes news, Donegal Racing's Keen Ice jogged two miles at 8:30 a.m. with exercise rider Faustino Aguilar in the irons for trainer Dale Romans.