American Pharoah Gallops, Will Breeze June 1

With only a week until the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (gr. I), Triple Crown hopeful American Pharoah stepped up his training May 30 with a 1 1/2-mile gallop on the Churchill Downs main track.



"It was another good day," said Jorge Alvarez, the Pioneerof the Nile   colt's regular exercise rider. "He was a little more aggressive this morning and wanted to do more, but I just kept doing my thing. I'm feeling more excited than nervous. We just feel that we have the right horse and he's doing well. We're all staying positive."



Jimmy Barnes, assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, also liked what he saw, and maintains a relaxed and positive attitude.



"We're back to our normal training routine and he looked good again," Barnes said. "We feel no nerves. We're just doing our job. We get more anxious the closer to the race, but there's a difference between anxious and nervous."

Baffert is scheduled to fly into Louisville Saturday night from his Southern California base to oversee his string of 12 horses stabled at Churchill the following morning. Baffert confirmed Saturday morning that American Pharoah will gallop May 31 and breeze at Churchill June 1.



In other Belmont Stakes news, Donegal Racing's Keen Ice, seventh in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), galloped two miles on the main track with exercise rider Faustino Aguilar up for trainer Dale Romans.

"We're going into the race with no physical excuses," Romans said. "If he's good enough, then he'll win. He's fit and he's ready to go the distance."



Keen Ice will likely breeze a half-mile June 2 before leaving for Belmont Park.