Triple Crown Diaries: Joining Pharoah's Entourage
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When my alarm went off on Sunday morning, I popped out of bed and within 20 minutes was out of my apartment in Lexington, Ky. About an hour and a half later, I pulled into the backside of Churchill Downs and was waved through by a security guard when I showed him my pass.
In my opinion, the best time to be at the track is in the morning when all the horses are getting their morning exercise, bathes and morning breakfast and Sunday was no different. As I made my way over to Bob Baffert’s barn, I followed what seemed like an endless trail of horses headed home from the track and even some headed out even though we were only minutes away from the break (when the track closes so tractors can groom the surface). For some people, Sunday is a day to prepare for the work week but for those who work at the track, it’s just another day of doing what they love.
When I arrived at Bob Baffert’s barn to await American Pharoah's appearance, it was obvious I wasn’t the only one with that plan. There was already a large group there but it seemed like Bob expected there to be a bigger crowd as he made a wise crack about the group only having about 20 people in it. But American Pharoah seemed to enjoy having people waiting for him and he checked them out as he walked the shedrow, then had his ears pricked as he led the group to the track.
But before American Pharoah would allow anyone to lead him onto the actual track, he had to pause and make sure everyone got a photo of him. I’ve seen a lot of horses who ham it up for the camera, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen one as curious and intent on making sure everyone gets his picture as American Pharoah seems to be.
But once American Pharoah hit the track, he was all business. He gave a little hop as his handler took off the shank then settled into a jog with his stable pony Smokey going along beside him.
Unlike when I watched him on Friday and only had a few quick moments to grab shots, American Pharoah made two appearances by my spot during his gallop. It’s obvious that he’s a happy horse as he had his ears pricked the whole time and looked like he was begging rider Georgie Alvarez to let him go faster.
As American Pharoah passed the crowds Keen Ice, who is also running in the Belmont Stakes, jogged past. He always seems to think that everyone is waiting for him when he passes the crowd at the track during his training time. He’s a beautiful horse so it’s definitely a bonus to get to see him.
By the time I got to the gap after Keen Ice went by, American Pharoah was returning and looking as happy as ever.
Not surprisingly, his entourage followed along behind him and lined up again at the saw horses to patiently wait for him to get his bath. After walking a few laps in the shedrow to cool down, the Triple Crown hopeful didn’t disappoint his fans. He gave them some good photos during his walk out and while he was standing during his bath. He was a little feisty during his bath and later on Bob Baffert told us he gets a little tougher when he knows he is close to a workout (he is working on Monday).
As the bath went on, the crowd started thinning out and by the time American Pharoah headed into the barn with his hot walker only the media and a few people were hanging around. Cameramen, journalists and photographers swarmed Baffert to ask him about American Pharoah and the Triple Crown and the trainer shared his thoughts on everything from black cats (Baffert believes they are bad luck) to American Pharoah’s pedigree and his sire Pioneerof the Nile, who Baffert trained.
Throughout the press conference, American Pharoah stopped at the same corner of the barn everyone was gathered at. The colt stopped on every lap, refusing to move until someone got behind him and made some noise, and seemed confused as to why we our attention was on his trainer and not him.
Finally, American Pharoah was put in his stall to relax for the rest of the day and everyone went their separate ways. We’ll all be back tomorrow for the colt’s final work before the Belmont Stakes and I’ll recap all the action for you right here on America’s Best Racing.