Being Justin Zayat: Haskell, Horse Sales and American Pharoah

American Pharoah thrilled fans Friday morning at Monmouth Park during a routine gallop in preparation for Sunday's Haskell Invitational Stakes. (Photo by Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO)
Justin Zayat’s week is about to reach a climactic moment Sunday in the William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes. The 23-year-old racing and stable manager has been to Monmouth Park and back to New York, tracking the progress of the Zayat Stables’ biggest star American Pharoah. As he continues to grant America’s Best Racing exclusive access to his week, Zayat not only discusses the Triple Crown winner’s day today but also his thoughts about other races, horse sales and even what he would do if he could be declared racing's big boss.
1. What did you think of American Pharoah’s gallop this morning and the thousands of fans who showed up to see him?
It was just a morning gallop. Just imagine what Sunday is going to be like. If this was an indication of what it’s going to be like Sunday, it’s going to be an epic day. That’s what we need in racing. That’s why we brought this horse back. He looks good. He shipped in good order and with good energy. George [Alvarez, the exercise rider] told me that they didn’t let him do too much today. Just let him stretch his legs a little. He’s ready. It’s just about keeping him happy and healthy and not letting him do anything too strenuous between now and the race.
AMERICAN PHAROAH'S GALLOP ON FRIDAY

2. American Pharoah got startled for a moment this afternoon as he was being led in for schooling in the paddock. As George was walking alongside, he slipped and fell when Pharoah got spooked. What did you hear happened?
I think he got spooked by a fan. George is OK. I think just the whole event - George tripping and the combination of the fan - set him off a bit. But it’s all good. That’s why we school him before the race.
3. How does Pharoah handle the summer heat? And how do you?
He does well. He’s an all-weather horse. He can handle California. He’s been to the East Coast. He’s been to Arkansas; it was cold there. He’s been in the rain. He’s fine. And me? I’m Middle Eastern, man. Come on. (laughs) Honestly, that’s why I like California more in the summer than the east coast. I don’t like humidity. I like it hot. I am way more of a sunny guy than a winter guy. I love the sun, I love the beach, and I love the pool, but I don’t like humidity when it’s very hot. That’s why I like California, where it’s a dry heat and beautiful with a nice breeze. 
AMERICAN PHAROAH SCHOOLS FRIDAY AT MONMOUTH

Photo by Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
4. Will you be doing some scouting Saturday watching the Jim Dandy Stakes from Saratoga?
I scout every single day. It’s not just the Jim Dandy or the 3-year-olds that I’m scouting. I watch every single 2-year-old maiden race or every other race where there could be a potential superstar. I make sure to watch every single taped race that runs. I go in at night and watch all the replays if I didn’t even watch them live. Of course, I’ll watch the Jim Dandy. It looks like it’s going to be a four-horse field now, but it’s going to be an interesting race for sure. It’s a good indication of the horses we’re going to face down the line.
5. When you are at a sale buying horses and going over how they look and their pedigree, what is most important to you?
First of all you have to look at the individual athlete, because if he doesn’t look like an athlete, I don’t care who your parents are, you’re not going to be a runner. You’ve got to look like you can run. For instance, if you looked at California Chrome’s pedigree, as a weanling you wouldn’t want to buy that horse. But Mr. [Steve] Coburn and Mr. [Perry] Martin and all of them who bred him, they saw something in him and they kept him and they believed in him. Look what he turned out to be. Then, you look at the price of the horse at the auction. Then, you have to go through the vetting process. You may have 50 horses you like in the sale, but then you go to your vet, and then you’re down to 48 of them. It’s a fun process. I enjoy that process just as much as I enjoy racing the horses and managing them and scouting them. It’s a different strategy.
A DIFFERENT SETTING AT THOROUGHBRED AUCTIONS

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
6. American Pharoah is 1-to-5 on the morning line for the Haskell on Sunday. But never mind that. Let’s say there any race where the favorite is 1-to-5, and you like him. How do you bet it so that you can make any money on it?
I’m not a ‘win’ bet player. I like betting exotics. You’ve got to play maybe the Pick 4 or Pick 6, have him as your single, like him that much and hope you get a longer shot on the other races around it. Or hoping to get a trifecta, and hoping a longshot runs for third or even second to blow up your payoff. You’ve got to have a lot of hope when a horse is 1-to-5 and you’re trying to play it.
7. What is your go-to source for racing news?
In the last couple years, it’s been Twitter. That’s because everything is there a second anything ever happens. The Daily Racing Form is great. Blood-Horse is great. Just talking to people and being around the track, too. I listen to my trainers and my team. Of course, there are great, respectable handicappers out there. I listen to track handicappers before the race. Who knows what information they hear around the track? They’re there every single day, literally.
8. What sorts of American Pharoah souvenirs have you donated to be sold for charities?
We’ve given close to 10 or 12 halters away just for racing charities. A lot of them were toward Thoroughbred retirement. Old Friends had one. I saw the Pharoah ‘Moneigh’ (painting made by the horse) that broke the record that Zenyatta had that went for I think $5,300 on eBay. All those things go to charity. 
AMERICAN PHAROAH'S MONEIGH

Photo courtesy of Rerun/Kathy Maher
9. What does American Pharoah like to eat or drink that may be different from the average horse?
Nothing. I don’t think there’s any different diet beside getting more carrots than any other horse. I just leave that to [trainer] Bob [Baffert] and the team. I think he just eats regular hay and oats just like any other horse does. He’s definitely more carrots than mints. It’s funny because [2012 Haskell winner] Paynter used to love mints. But Pharoah’s a carrot guy. 
10. If you were chosen to be the czar of Thoroughbred racing, what would be your first order?
The first order would be to make all the tracks coordinate all their schedules. It’s great that HRTV and TVG have teamed up, finally. That was a good step into that process. Now we need to make sure they’re not running two different Grade 1s on a Saturday at two different tracks at the same time. I would make a big, giant, horse-racing rule book; I don’t care what state you’re in. They all have to have the same, exact rules regarding medication doses, jockey equipment — any regulation that they have in racing. There should be one giant rule book, and everyone has to follow the same, exact rules. Everyone has to get on the same page and be a little more cohesive.