Pharoah's Arrival: Hero's Welcome Home to Santa Anita
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Photos by Jose Contreras
Welcome home, American Pharoah.
The horse with the short tail that captured the attention of fans across the world with his historic Triple Crown run returned to his home base of Santa Anita Park on Thursday. American Pharoah boarded a plane from Louisville, Ky. and landed in Ontario, Calif. Thursday morning. Once in California, American Pharoah received a police escort from the airport to his barn at Santa Anita Park courtesy of the Arcadia Police Department.
I arrived at trainer Bob Baffert’s barn about an hour before American Pharoah arrived and the crowd was beginning to grow by the minute.
An update from the van told us American Pharoah was stuck in traffic. Yes, even with a police escort, the Los Angeles area traffic is brutal. So, Bob and Bode took a little break while they waited for American Pharoah.
Jockey Victor Espinoza used the time to give media interviews, sign autographs, and take photos with the crowd before American Pharoah arrived.
It wasn’t too long after that when American Pharoah arrived at about 11:40 a.m. in his customized van.
American Pharoah walked off the van and went straight for a bath to cool off from the 90-degree weather that we were having in Arcadia. He later returned to pose for the media with Baffert, Espinoza, assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes and groom Eduardo Luna taking turns walking him around.
Everyone was trying to get a photo of the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.
He took a quick glance towards the crowd with Jimmy Barnes leading the way, his shiny coat still drying out after his bath.
The next time around with Luna leading the way, American Pharoah stopped like a statue as the crowd fired away with the cameras.
Victor Espinoza wanted his turn and American Pharoah stopped and posed like a professional model. Maybe he learned a few tricks from his recent photo shoot for Vogue?
Bob Baffert finished up the morning with media interviews and selfies with the fans.
Later that day Victor Espinoza was back on the saddle at Santa Anita Park for the first time since his Triple Crown victory, and the fans in attendance gave him a big ovation. He ended up with two wins on the day.
What’s next for American Pharoah?
Bob Baffert said he would like to race him two times before the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland in October but has not made a firm decision yet where his next race might be.
In the meantime, American Pharoah will parade for the fans at Santa Anita Park on June 27 which features the running of the Grade I $500,000 Gold Cup. NBCSN will broadcast the race live from 8 to 9 p.m. ET.
Santa Anita Park will also be giving away a free T-shirt on June 27. For details visit SantaAnita.com.