American Pharoah to Jog at Churchill June 12

American Pharoah is scheduled to jog at Churchill Downs June 12, around 6:45 a.m. EDT, in his first appearance on the track since sealing the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes presented by DraftKings (gr. I).



The son of Pioneerof the Nile   had previously been walking the shedrow of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's Barn 33 daily since returning to Churchill June 7.

 

"He's absolutely fine—solid," assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said. "He's the same as he's always been."

 

The Zayat Stables runner has been greeted daily by numerous horsemen and barn-area guests looking for a picture and a chance to visit with the 12th Triple Crown winner and first since 1978.

 

"The people love him," Barnes said. "They've been coming by and we've been friendly to everyone who's wanted to visit him. This goes right to the top of all of our achievements and accomplishments, and we're just glad that we finally got it done."

 

While the barn area remains secured and closed to the public, fans will be able to salute horse racing's newest star June 13, when American Pharoah will be paraded on the main track after the fifth race—around 8 p.m.—during Churchill's 11-race "Downs After Dark" card. Owner and breeder Ahmed Zayat and his family, Baffert and his family, and jockey Victor Espinoza will be on hand to accept their engraved Kentucky Derby 141 trophies in a winner's circle ceremony scheduled immediately after the sixth race, at 8:32 p.m.

 

Baffert is scheduled to return to Louisville Thursday night and will be at the barn June 12. American Pharoah is scheduled to return to his Santa Anita Park base June 18.