Justin Zayat Haskell Diary: From Anxiety to Ecstasy

Justin Zayat signs autographs in the paddock before the Haskell Stakes. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire unless otherwise noted)
If there was one feeling that pervaded Team Zayat before Sunday’s Grade 1 $1.75-million William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes, it was anxiety. After American Pharoah cruised to his 2¼-length victory, it was elation. None more so than with Racing and Stable Manager Justin Zayat. The 23-year-old son of Zayat Stables patriarch Ahmed Zayat has provided America’s Best Racing with exclusive access to his week leading up to and through the Haskell. After going all Q&A last week, we turn to a diary to chronicle his day on Sunday at Monmouth Park.
Midnight
While fans were lining up outside the gates at the track, Zayat was fast asleep.
“I was in my bed at home in Teaneck, N.J. I actually went to sleep early last night at 11:30, because it’s a big day ahead of me. It was a quiet night, not doing anything too crazy, hopefully saving celebrations until later.”
6 a.m.
“I woke up a little nervous. I heard my mom yelling through the house. My little brother, Benjamin, came back from overseas. He was away in camp in Israel. He’s not really too little. He’s a big 15-year-old. We named a horse after him – Big Foot Ben – because he’s so big. Ben flew in just for the race today. He got in at 6 o’clock.”
11 a.m.
“We took a helicopter to get down here. We took off from Teterboro, which is about 10 minutes from our house.”
11:17 a.m.
“We landed right at the track near the parking lot.”
11:30 a.m.
“We walked in here to the track and went right to the Omnibus Room. We’re getting ready for all our guests to come. We have 120 people coming. We’re going to have a lot of rookies in the house. I’m sure I’m going to be answering all the easy questions at first – what will win, how do you bet, the ABCs of racing.”
Preparing the party meant renting three big rooms in Monmouth Park’s Parterre boxes. That was a big part of Zayat’s duties this week.
“My parents were in California the last couple weeks. I came to the East Coast to get prepared for the party. I met [Monmouth Park executives Bob] Kulina and [Dennis] Drazin on Thursday – the day of the draw. I like to make sure that when I bring guests they were going to have a good time. That’s a big part of my job. I handle things like who’s doing the Kentucky Derby tickets, who’s making the arrangements, making sure we have enough paddock passes for today. Not only do I have the racing on my hands, I have the logistics of the party. That’s pressure.”
1 p.m.
Zayat made an appearance in the Monmouth Park press box. And he was not alone.
“I wanted to show my friends the races from a different angle. So I brought them to meet [track announcer] Frank Mirahmadi. Who is more charismatic than Frank Mirahmadi. Of course, he was being hilarious. He was also showing us how he memorizes the horses before the race – the whole she-bang from A to Z up there. It was a really cool experience. They loved it.”
ONE OF MANY MONMOUTH RACES ZAYAT'S FRIENDS COULD WATCH

3 p.m.
Zayat was entertaining his friends in a separate big room on the Parterre Level.
“When we won the Haskell [in 2012], we had the celebration in here for Paynter. I’ve made this downstairs the younger, funner room. Upstairs is the parents’ room with nice, good food and everything. Down here is the fun. I felt like I want to get people addicted to racing, so I’ve got to make them fall in love in different ways. Look at the windows right now. They’re pounding away. This is all my crew, all my friends here. Hopefully, they’ll hit a bet, and they’ll be hooked. If they don’t like betting, there’s other ways to get them involved. Just watch the races, see the style, come for a day like today, and see how many people come out. It’s something fun to do on a Sunday.”
5:10 p.m.
The Zayats and their friends – about 30 of them – arrived in the paddock. After they joined Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert for an interview with Kenny Rice on NBC, they posed for photos, did a lot of fist bumping and waited for American Pharoah to arrive from the Barn 12. Comedian Bill Murray is only five yards away. The nerves are even closer.
“Murray is a cool guy. I’ve met a lot of cool people during the Triple Crown. But I’m here on a mission. I’m here to win races, not meet people. (laughs) All I know is the governor is here and Pharoah is here, so the star is here. I just stand here and sweat and just pray and hope it all goes well. It’s kind of a relief that it’s out of my hands. Whatever is going to happen is going to happen. It’s up to [jockey] Victor [Espinoza]. The pressure is on Victor. He just told you ‘we’re ready to win.’ ”
BILL MURRAY IN THE PADDOCK BEFORE THE RACE

Photo by Penelope P. Miller
5:24 p.m.
American Pharoah is coming through the tunnel leading into the paddock. Suddenly the crowd lets out a big cheer.
“Can we have a quiet sign? Oh, there he is. He looks good – so far. Thumbs up. Dad says thumbs up. He looks a little warm today, but it’s his comeback race. He may have needed it a little. But that’s Pharoah. It’s when he goes through the tunnel that the noise echoes. It drove him a little crazy the other day [during schooling]. Hopefully, that goes well. Just get him on the track. He looks very good right now.”
5:50 p.m.
After being greeted by Gov. Chris Christie, the Zayats and Baffert have worked their way up to a crowded into a small, outdoor box on the second level.
“He’s ready.”
The whole time,Zayat is squeezing the hand of his girlfriend, Michelle.
“I probably broke it a couple times. I probably squeezed it too hard when he left the gate.”
Just then, Zayat notices an unusual sight on the infield side of the rail near the finish line.
“Look at all the jockeys who came out to watch this. That’s nice, isn’t it?”
THE JOCKEYS GETTING READY TO WATCH THE HASKELL

5:54 p.m.
The gates fly open. American Pharoah settles into second place behind pacesetter Competitive Edge. As they reach the half-mile pole, Zayat realizes that Pharoah is about to take a lead that he will not relinquish. “Let the show go!”
With one fist raised and then the other, Zayat lets loose with a pent-up cheer that would continue through Pharoah’s run to victory.
“Wooo! Let’s go Pharoah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Wooo! Yeah! He’s so good. Unbelievable. Yeah! He cantered home. He walked home.”
6:16 p.m.
After making the descent through the crowd to the winner’s circle, the Zayats engaged in the requisite post-race interviews on NBC. Then they collected the Haskell trophy from Christie. Zayat held it aloft.
“It’s not that heavy. I started working out more. I guess lifting the other trophies was good preparation for today. Actually, the heaviest trophy I ever held was the Belmont by far. We needed three people to carry it. I had to whisper, ‘Bob, I need some help.’ It’s an honor. You saw what he did. You saw I got excited in the middle. I saw he was cruising. He was well within himself. I saw Competitive Edge went up in front. I thought we’d be wire to wire if you asked me now.”
6:51 p.m.
After the post-race news conference in the Breeders’ Cup Garden where Ahmed Zayat, Espinoza and Baffert did most of the talking, Justin Zayat watched the replay on one of the TVs set up there.
“I just watched the stretch, and it was just remarkable. You saw his ears go up. The Pharoah is back. You saw those ears go up, and he took off down the lane. That was really exciting. I’m happy. We felt a lot of pressure today. The crowd got a little nervous. The horse was a little fresh. Yesterday [exercise rider] George [Álvarez] told me he was really sharp. And Bob said to us, ‘he’s real sharp.’ And when he’s really sharp, it’s because he’s got him fresh and ready. When he gets Victor on him, he knows it’s show time. Everyone was a little on edge, so I’m happy to come through. It’s a good relief.”
AMERICAN PHAROAH WINNING THE HASKELL FOR FUN

6:55 p.m.
With this month’s Travers Stakes at Saratoga and next month’s Pennsylvania Derby as candidates, Baffert and Ahmed Zayat would not commit to a specific next race. Neither would Justin Zayat, and he said that is what he will tell track bosses who start ringing his phone on Monday.
“I keep telling them at as the race gets closer, we’ll decide. I’m not trying to have this track play this track and have a circus. We want to do what’s best for the horse and what’s best for each track. Saratoga is lobbying him, so we’ll see.”
7 p.m.
The anxiety behind him and the ecstasy of another victory still setting in, Zayat was thinking about how he would celebrate into the night.
“I’m going back to Manhattan right now. I’ve got work tomorrow. My family and Bob are all taking a plane right back to Del Mar. I’m hanging around on the East Coast for the week. I’m getting ready to go to Saratoga. I’m actually going to take a car service back to New York. It depends on the traffic to see if I’ll go out when I get back tonight. I’m back in the office tomorrow morning.”