American Pharoah Back on Track at Santa Anita
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For the first time since early April, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah took a trip around the Santa Anita Park main track the morning of June 20.
With regular exercise rider Jorge Alvarez aboard, the Pioneerof the Nile colt jogged counterclockwise around the Southern California oval with assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes aboard pony Sunny as an escort.
"He's been pretty much the same," Alvarez said. "He doesn't really show you any difference. When we was (in New York and Kentucky), he was always kinda quiet, but when he gallops, that's when he shows you, because he gets aggressive. So far, so good."
After the Zayat Stables-owned colt made his return from Churchill Downs June 18, he got a day of rest before getting back out on the track.
BALAN: American Pharoah Returns Home at Santa Anita
"We saw everything we needed to see—he's happy, fresh," Barnes said of the jog. "We're still a ways away from racing, so if there's a good time to give him an extra day (of rest) it was (yesterday)."
Both Barnes and trainer Bob Baffert said there was no timetable set for when American Pharoah will breeze next for his return to the races.