Being Justin Zayat: American Pharoah Time in My Life

Justin Zayat (second from right) celebrates a win with Team Zayat and jockey Victor Espinoza (far left) at Oaklawn Park earlier this season. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
Justin Zayat told us Monday that he did not bet on American Pharoah during the Triple Crown run, that he prefers Zegna, and that if the horse lets him have his way, American Pharoah would race next month in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
In the second day granting America's Best Racing exclusive access to his Haskell Invitational Stakes week, racing and stable manager Zayat answers 10 more questions about what it's like to be so close to racing's biggest new star. 
1. Did you watch American Pharoah's workout this morning at Del Mar? Where were you? How did you get to see it?
I'm already back on the East Coast, so I couldn't be there myself. But my dad was there, and my mom was there. [Trainer] Bob [Baffert] and everyone said it went just perfect. We weren't looking for him to break the stopwatches or do anything too flashy. Just stretch his legs and get an easy work in him. He went a half [mile]; I think they had him in 49 [seconds] and change. He galloped out [five-eighths of a mile] about 1:01. He's ready to go. He came back in good shape. It was really nothing for him. Just a simple, little work. He came back breathing fire, and he ships tomorrow. I actually watched it on Periscope. Thank God for Periscope these days.
AHMED ZAYAT AND TRAINER BOB BAFFERT WATCH MORNING WORKOUTS

2. What can you tell us about American Pharoah that few others know?
The other day [New Orleans Saints quarterback] Drew Brees came by with his family. It was so cool to meet Drew Brees, and he had a newborn baby that was so small. The baby's feet were on the horse's nose. Normally, you'd think a horse would think that’s a treat and start to nibble on it, but this horse just put his head on the baby’s feet and rubbed his head against the feet. It was quite cute to see. The horse just loves people. And trust me, he gets fed so many carrots a day he’s going to turn orange. He’s really spoiled.
3. Which human athlete do you most compare American Pharoah with and why?
He’s so many different things. You remember how Michael Phelps was so dominant in swimming? He had natural speed, but he was also able to carry the stamina and go longer in races. I could compare his explosiveness to LeBron James. But his personality? It's so rare. He's like Shaq.
4. Your family is based in New Jersey. What New Jersey hot spots do you recommend to folks visiting Monmouth Park this weekend to watch American Pharoah in the Haskell?
I know there’s that famous Max’s Hot Dogs that everyone talks about. I've never been there, but Bob always tells me ‘I'm finally going back to the Haskell so I can get one of those hot dogs.’ Everyone talks about the hot-dog place. But it’s not too far from Atlantic City. If anyone hits it big at the racetrack and wants to keep going, you’ve got Atlantic City not too far away.
5. If American Pharoah had a theme song, what would it be?
It would have to be something dominant. Something like the Rocky Balboa song when he’s coming out – ‘Gonna Fly Now.’ Something like that.
AMERICAN PHAROAH: FINALLY THE ONE

6. What have you done with your life since the Triple Crown victory?
It’s my first time that I’m actually able to sit back and relax and celebrate. My life has gotten so exciting. My professional career has been taken to a whole, new level. Now I’m a 23-year-old graduate from NYU who is managing a Triple Crown winner. Five months ago, I was a senior. I hadn’t graduated, I hadn’t really done much with my life yet at the time. It was way different professionally. Socially, it’s kind of the same. I’m not looking to go pick up new friends because I’ve won the Triple Crown. I was always happy with my friend group. I’ve had a girlfriend for the last year, which is always good. Socially, it’s been exactly the same, which I’m happy about. I go to the racetrack now, obviously, it’s totally different. I walk in and everyone knows who American Pharoah is. People are coming up to me and greeting me, and it’s been so exciting. After the Triple Crown, the first couple weeks were kind of hectic with everyone calling. The phone was ringing off the hook. But now that it’s summertime, it’s kind of relaxed; people are focusing on Saratoga. Only this week has it started ringing again, because he’s coming back to race. Other than that, it’s just been excitement. Our whole family can finally take in what just happened over last couple months, sit back and enjoy it. I’m really just trying to take in as much of it as I can. I love going on Twitter every day and seeing pictures of Pharoah. I love going to the track just to see Pharoah. This is my American Pharoah time in my life, and I’m just trying to really soak it in for who knows? The next six months, year, whatever it’s going to be.
ZAYATS AT KENTUCKY DERBY TROPHY PRESENTATION IN JUNE

7. We hear you have a new nickname that the public has given you since the Triple Crown. What is it?
I got called Horse Boy in the Apple Store in New York. I was walking in and someone said, ‘Hey, it’s Horse Boy over there.’
8. If you could only pick one, where would you spend your summer - Del Mar or Saratoga?
I’ve been doing it for the last 12 years - Del Mar. I love Saratoga for the racing. The quality of horses running there is spectacular. But the best part of being in California for the summer? I wake up every day and if I don’t go to training, let’s say I wake up at 9:30. It’s a half-hour before Saratoga starts. It’s like the first second I wake up. I love California. It’s not humid. You’re right by the beach. I try to make one trip to Saratoga a year. I’m actually flying in for the trainers v. jockeys basketball game. I’m their special guest, so I’m going to be coming for Aug. 6. I’ll be there through the Whitney [Stakes] weekend for the sale. Then, I’ll go back to Del Mar after that. Who knows? I may even come back for the Travers.
JUSTIN ZAYAT

9. Do you play daily fantasy sports?  If so, what’s your sport?
I used to. Growing up I used to keep track of every single sport religiously. I used to go on ESPN and see every single stat. I could tell you all the lineups of every team. As soon as I got into racing, it’s like a whole other sport that you have to focus on that I try to put 150 percent effort into, so I stopped playing fantasy every day. I play fantasy football every year. It’s the only one I still play. Fantasy basketball and baseball, it’s just too much to maintain on a daily basis. I like keeping track. I didn’t stop following sports completely. Now, I watch football every Sunday because that's easy.
10. You’re an ambassador for the sport. How has American Pharoah’s Triple Crown win been received by millennials? And based on your experience, what are the best ways the sport can attract new fans?
I hope people are influenced by my story. They see it, and they’re saying, ‘Oh, I want to try to do that one day,’ and then they get in the game. With me as a younger individual, I think I can attract younger fans to the game. It’s so hard, because it’s not like basketball or baseball where you just grow up and play Little League. You can’t just go, ‘Hey, mom, I want to go race my horse against my friend’s.’ That just doesn’t happen. It’s a gamblers’ sport, and that’s how people start falling in love. Now, what American Pharoah is doing is to make people fall in love with the actual horse rather than the sport. I think that’s where it starts. If you start falling in love with horses first, then you start gradually getting into the competition side of it and the racing side of it and the gambling side of it. That’s a total, different aspect of it. I have so many of my friends who, when they see pictures of Pharoah on Facebook, they’re just like, ‘Oh, my God, the horse just looks so powerful.’ They see his muscles. He’s so beautiful. People are falling in love with the actual animal rather than who he is or his status. I think that’s very important, too. Bringing people to the races, too. When I’m coming to the Whitney, I’m bringing six or seven friends with me. They just love coming to Saratoga, enjoying a day at the races. My friends make jokes all the time about how once we’re all going to hit a Pick 6 together and then we’ll buy a horse together. They’re getting a little of the bug in them, too. That’s what I try to do.

AMERICAN PHAROAH RETURNS IN THE HASKELL