American Pharoah En Route to California
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Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was initially hesitant to leave Churchill Downs the morning of June 18 before returning to California to prepare for the next phase of his racing career.
The Zayat Stables homebred had been based at Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's Barn 33 on the track's backside since mid-April before starting his historic quest toward becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner and first since 1978.
A small group of fans and media said goodbye to American Pharoah as he boarded a transport van at about 7:25 a.m. EDT for a flight back to Southern California and a van ride to Santa Anita Park.
Baffert hasn't specified when or where American Pharoah's next race will be, but hopes to bring him back to Kentucky for this fall's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Keeneland. The 3-year-old of Pioneerof the Nile has won seven of eight career starts, including the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes (gr. I), and Belmont Stakes presented by DraftKings (gr. I).