American Pharoah Set to be on Vogue Cover

Not only will Triple Crown winner American Pharoah grace the cover of the latest issue of Sports Illustrated, but he is also scheduled to make an appearance on the next issue of Vogue, according to owner Ahmed Zayat.

"We are breaking new territory," Zayat, who operates his family's Zayat Stables, said June 10 in a podcast interview with Bloodhorse.com. "We just signed an agreement to have him on the cover of the next issue of Vogue magazine."

By being selected for the cover of Sports Illustrated, American Pharoah joins Mine That Bird and Smarty Jones  —in 2009 and 2004, respectively—as the only horses to have made the magazine's cover since 2000 and a Vogue cover for a horse would be unique.

Zayat reiterated his oft-stated desire to keep American Pharoah in training at least until the end of 2015. American Pharoah, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, Xpressbet.com Preakness, and Belmont presented by DraftKings, all grade I, will retire to Coolmore's Ashford Stud upon completion of his racing career.

"We will sit down and see what will be the next call for him," Zayat said. "Obviously the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) would be a very fitting finale for him."

Zayat said the reality that his racing stable, which has been in operation less than 10 years, could come up with a homebred Triple Crown winner "hasn't sunk in yet. Looking and hearing the roar of the fans, and the way they acted, cheering and clapping for five to 10 minutes..."

Zayat said the staff at Baffert's stable at Churchill Downs, where American Pharoah will be honored June 13 and will remain until next week, has been directed to remain open to the public, to allow fans to see the champion.

"He belongs to the fans and he belongs to America," Zayat said. "We will do him right."