'Pharoah' Heads Home, Next Race Undecided

American Pharoah boarded a van the morning of Aug. 3 on the Monmouth Park backstretch for his long journey back to Southern California, where his connections will make a decision on where the Triple Crown winner will make his next start.

For the connections, it should prove a largely pleasant choice to make after American Pharoah delivered a dominating performance in his first start since the Triple Crown, winning the $1.75 million William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr. I) by 2 1/4 lengths under wraps from jockey Victor Espinoza.

Owner Ahmed Zayat and trainer Bob Baffert offered few clues about where American Pharoah would start next, though Baffert suggested a race against older horses before the ultimate target of the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) would be unlikely. Both suggested the timing of the race—relative to how American Pharoah bounces out of the Haskell when he returns to Southern California—will factor big in their decision.

The beginning of that journey home went smoothly Monday morning at Monmouth.

"He came out of the race perfect. He looks like he could go out there and do it again today," exercise rider Georgie Alvarez said. "He wasn't even tired this morning. He cleaned the tub and ate all of his food."

After walking the shedrow, American Pharoah boarded the van at 8:30 a.m. EDT to ship to Atlantic City International Airport, where he was to board a private jet for the transcontinental flight. Alvarez expected that about 10 hours later the colt would be settled back in his stall in Baffert's Del Mar barn.

"We'll stick to his normal routine. For three days, he'll just walk and then go back to jogging. Bob will decide from there," said Alvarez, who declared the colt to be the best he has galloped in his long career.

As for that next start? Sticking to races against 3-year-olds would rule out the Aug. 22 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (gr. I), but Baffert said he's sure Del Mar officials will make an effort to have the Triple Crown winner race in Southern California. 

On Aug. 1 New York Racing Association officials announced a $350,000 purse increase to $1.6 million for the Travers Stakes (gr. I) if American Pharoah runs in the Aug. 29 race at Saratoga Race Course. Also targeting the 1 1/4-mile race are grade I winners Texas Red and Frosted, the one-two finishers in the Jim Dandy Stakes (gr. II) Aug. 1 at Saratoga.

Last year Baffert started Bayern in the Haskell, Travers, and Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) before his Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) win. Bayern won the Haskell and Pennsylvania Derby but finished last of 10 in the Travers.

While Bayern seemed to fight the surface at Saratoga, Baffert doesn't think that would be a problem for American Pharoah.

"We're just playing it race by race," Baffert said. "It's hard to keep a horse at this level. He has logged so many miles. As long as he shows us that he's at that top level, I don't care what kind of track; mud, snow, synthetic. He just runs. He runs on everything."

This year the Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 19 at Parx Racing could be an enticing target for American Pharoah. And Monmouth officials told the Asbury Park Press they are working to put together a million-dollar September race to draw a return visit from the Triple Crown winner. 

Interestingly enough, many Triple Crown winners have stumbled in their second start after sweeping the classics.

Both of the Triple Crown winners of the 1970s to make a second start at age 3 after their Triple Crown sweeps lost those races. Affirmed was disqualified to second after reaching the wire first in the Travers, taken down for interference with rival Alydar. In Secretariat's second start after the classics, and first race against older horses, he was upset by Onion in the 1973 Whitney Handicap (gr. II) at Saratoga.

Seattle Slew lost the Swaps Stakes (gr. I) after winning the Triple Crown and didn't race again at 3. He came back in May of his 4-year-old season with an easy allowance win at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

Baffert said as a fan watching Secretariat run second to Onion was a letdown. But he understands that even the best horses of all time can lose a race. If American Pharoah should lose, Baffert doesn't want it to be because he wasn't 100%.

"We have something really special and we owe it to him," Baffert said. "If he gets beat by some horse that comes along, fine, but I want to make sure he's going great."