Travers Diaries: Sweet Anticipation

American Pharoah. Already, that name is legendary among horse racing fans, history buffs and sports enthusiasts around the nation after the colt became the first horse in 37 years to capture the Triple Crown. He was already somewhat famous in Thoroughbred circles before he ever won the Kentucky Derby, but once American Pharoah crossed the finish line in the Belmont Stakes on June 6, 2015, the colt became a legitimate phenomenon. Fans flocked to his public appearances and workouts, and when the Pharoah made his first post-Triple Crown start at Monmouth Park in the Haskell Invitational Stakes, he attracted more than 60,000 people to the seaside track.
How appropriate, then, that Saratoga Race Course is the site of his next race. The Spa, as Saratoga is affectionately known, is America’s oldest sporting venue. The place has seen it all, and it feels right that the first Triple Crown winner of my lifetime should compete on the same hallowed ground as legendary names like Citation, Whirlaway, Secretariat, Man o’ War, and Affirmed.

Because I am an excitable person, I woke up well before my alarm went off this morning and made my way to Saratoga Race Course just in time for a spectacular sunrise.

It was a chilly morning – a reminder that August is almost a memory – and steam rose off of the Thoroughbreds or jetted from their nostrils in plumes as they took their morning exercise.

As magnificent as it was to take in the quiet morning, it was time for me to hustle to the winner’s circle as the gates opened to the public and Pharoah fanatics arrived in droves to see the Triple Crown winner and his Travers Stakes challengers in one final prerace training session.

I marveled at the vast numbers of people who came to see American Pharoah gallop: the New York Racing Association estimated that there were 18,000 fans in attendance this morning, and I definitely think that may be underestimating things. The place was packed, and it was a joy to see so many people there to just take in the simple and undeniable beauty of a racehorse in motion.

There were even some four-legged fans in attendance! I fell in love with this droopy-eared hound when I spotted him in the crowd.

I knew it was show time when trainer Bob Baffert showed up in the winner’s circle to watch training. He was totally composed and happy and mostly seemed excited and a little surprised that so many people were on hand to watch his colt.

As we waited for the horses to emerge, replays of each of American Pharoah’s Triple Crown races played on the infield jumbotron. Everyone cheered as they watched the colt win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes again; but as the horses made their way onto the racetrack, the roar from fans as American Pharoah stepped foot on Saratoga soil gave me goosebumps.

American Pharoah jogged the wrong way (I realize that this sounds weird; that simply means that he moved clockwise around the racetrack, since Thoroughbreds in America run counterclockwise) and trotted in front of the crowd for the first time accompanied by his faithful friend Smokey the pony.

After pausing for only a second, American Pharoah turned around and began his gallop to the sound of massive cheers from the crowd behind him.

A few minutes later, track announcer Larry Collmus informed us that American Pharoah was galloping into the home stretch, and thousands of cameras shifted into position for the chance of a frame of greatness.

As American Pharoah passed the grandstand, screams and cheers followed him into the turn. The horse seemed to respond, stepping up his stride and preening for the cameras. In fact, at the press conference his exercise rider Georgie talked about how he responded to the crowd, extending his stride to show off for his fans.

Of course, American Pharoah’s Travers Stakes competition was out in full force, too; the first one I saw was Upstart, who jogged with a pony companion.

Texas Red is the horse who I think will be American Pharoah’s biggest challenger in the Travers Stakes. He looked calm and focused throughout his gallop despite the massive crowd.

Smart Transition is a bit of an unknown quantity for me; I think he’s going to have to run the race of his life to get a piece of the pie tomorrow.

Frammento is trained by Hall of Famer Nick Zito, and while he doesn’t have the résumé of the other runners in this race, he’s certainly a beautiful horse.

After the Travers horses had finished their laps around the oval, American Pharoah’s trainer Bob Baffert took some questions from the press.

Our New York-based ambassador Dan was Periscoping the whole thing, and I got a photo of him recording live video of Bob. Isn’t technology great?

After the horses left the racetrack, fans treated themselves to the buffet breakfast and eye-opening cocktails in the restaurant on the first level of the clubhouse.

Everything looked delicious, but I decided to forego delicious breakfast food in favor of a trip back to the barn area so I could catch up with American Pharoah as he cooled out from his work. (OK, not like that was a selfless act; I really love taking photos of that horse!)
I arrived back at John Terranova’s barn, where American Pharoah and his team have set up camp for Travers Stakes weekend. There was a huge crowd clustered outside already, but I managed to climb on top of a gold cart parked near the stable in order to get a good view. I was lucky, since I could easily see (and take photos of) our Triple Crown champ on the eve of the Travers Stakes.

His exercise rider Georgie was leading American Pharoah around as he cooled out, pausing occasionally to pet the champ under the massive shade trees of the Saratoga backstretch.

Collmus was there, and he got a chance to pet American Pharoah – which is definitely a deserved reward for his fantastic race calls about the colt throughout the Triple Crown!

American Pharoah then continued his stroll under the elms, but he made sure to make a pit stop every once in a while to mooch carrots off of trainer Bob Baffert’s wife, Jill.

After a few more laps, and with one last glance back toward his crowd of admirers, it was time for American Pharoah to head back into the barn for a meal and a nap.

Baffert reappeared then to give another press conference. He told the assembled media how special American Pharoah was, talked about prerace jitters and informed us all that Smokey the pony is not a good traveller. The more you know!

After that, I needed to head back to the grandstand area to get some work done. However, I had a plan for the afternoon: to head back to the barn at around 2:30 p.m. to try to catch American Pharoah going for a walk. Success! Thanks to my good friend (and amazing photographer) Eric Kalet, who clued me in, I was able to see the Pharoah one last time on Friday. He looked just fantastic as assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes led him around the tree-lined path.

Per usual, American Pharoah paused to let his admirers enjoy his presence; I truly believe that this horse both understands and enjoys the sounds of shutters clacking around him.

It was so nice to be at the barn with such a small crowd. Jimmy Barnes had a few quiet moments with American Pharoah, who clearly appreciated the attention.

He liked it so much, in fact, that Pharoah decided to make a pass at Jimmy, licking at his face.

After that moment of affection, it was time for American Pharoah to settle in for the night and for me to get ready for a huge day of racing on Saturday at Saratoga.

Thank you so much for joining me today, and I can’t wait to share my Travers Stakes day adventures with you tomorrow!