Miller’s Top Ten American Pharoah Moments, Part Two

As we count down the days to American Pharoah’s final race in Oct. 31’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, I’ve been thinking a lot about how many amazing memories our Triple Crown winner has given his fans. I’m sharing my ten favorite Pharoah moments with you this week; you can check out Part 1 here, and below are numbers 5-3 of my favorite memories. There will be more to come tomorrow, so stay tuned! 
Disclaimer: these memories are totally subjective, and I know everyone will have different favorite memories of American Pharoah. I would love to hear about yours in the comments!
5. The morning after the Belmont Stakes
The morning after the Belmont Stakes was an experience I’ll never forget. I’d left the track at about 11:30 the night before and limped into my apartment and straight to bed at about 1 a.m. (thanks, tunnel traffic!) but nothing in the world would stop me from heading back to the track the next morning to see the newly coronated Triple Crown winner. So when my alarm went of at 4:30 a.m., I was up and eager to head to the train station. I’m so glad that I got myself out of bed, because when I arrived at Belmont Park, trainer Bob Baffert had American Pharoah out of his stall so his star could snack on the grass outside of the barn.

There were probably about 20 or so media members there, and after chatting with various journalists for a while, Bob looked at us and just said, “So. Anyone want to pet him?” Um, YES, THANK YOU PLEASE!! En masse, the entire press corps surrounded American Pharoah and proceeded to pat the Triple Crown winner as he stood there calmly, soaking up the attention.

You better believe I got right in the thick of things.

After indulging us for a few minutes, it was time for Bob, jockey Victor Espinoza, and American Pharoah to sit down for a "TODAY Show" interview. The whole time, Pharoah put his head in his jockey and trainer’s hands, sweetly asking for attention. This horse has the calmest temperament of any 3-year-old colt I’ve ever seen, and it’s clear to me that he’s deeply loved.

After their interview was completed, it was time for American Pharoah and his faithful friend Smokey to get on a horse van to begin their journey home.

It was a bittersweet feeling watching them go: I was so grateful for the amazing memories that Belmont Stakes left me with for the rest of my life, but it was heart-wrenching to see the horse who made them all happen leave New York.

That morning was literally one of the best of my life – I will never forget it, and I know just how lucky I was to have that experience.
4. The Haskell
The War at the Shore, as the Haskell Invitational is known, is always one of my favorite summer racing events regardless of who’s running in it. Monmouth Park, which is nestled just off of the Jersey Shore, is an outstanding racetrack, and the Haskell is just plain fun from start to finish. So when Team American Pharoah announced that the Triple Crown winner’s first race after the Belmont would be the Haskell, I was delighted. And Monmouth Park didn’t disappoint: I knew that the Haskell was going to be awesome from the moment I saw American Pharoah’s customized horse van that picked him up from the airport to bring him to the track.

And things only got better from there. On Haskell Day, the crowd was massive and the party kept going all afternoon. By the time the big race rolled around, the track was packed, especially near the paddock. Fans were determined to see the Triple Crown winner; my favorite was this guy, who somehow climbed into a tree to get a good shot of American Pharoah.

Respect! 
American Pharoah’s owner Justin Zayat made sure to sign autographs for fans surrounding the walking ring, which I’m sure made a lot of wonderful memories as well!

Plus, my favorite movie star Bill Murray was there. He called “riders up” in the paddock before the Haskell in the best way possible, leading off with, “Gentlemen, we’re burning daylight!” which was fantastic and I love him. He also took the time to greet fans (as well as put up with the fact that my friend Jamie and I were totally not subtle at all of trying to get a selfie with him. No regrets.)

But the star of the show was definitely American Pharoah, who won the Haskell with ease and showed just what a dominant horse he is in the 3-year-old division. The crowd at Monmouth went berserk, and even jockeys were climbing to higher ground to get a view of Pharoah as he returned to the winner’s circle.

It was beautiful pandemonium, and one of my happiest memories of the summer.
3. The Kentucky Derby
I know. I’m lacing up my sneakers so I can outrun everyone who’s coming after me with torches and pitchforks for ranking the Derby as No. 3 on the list. The Run for the Roses is an unbelievable experience and one I truly believe should be on everyone’s bucket list. It’s an event like none other, and on the first Saturday in May there’s no place finer in the world to be than Churchill Downs.
This year’s Kentucky Derby was a year of firsts for me: my first Triple Crown-winning Derby, to be sure; but also the very first time I’ve ever done the walkover. This is when the Derby runners march from the stable area at Churchill Downs to the saddling paddock, and it’s an incredible thrill. Over 100,000 fans watch as the twenty or so Thoroughbreds and their squads head to the biggest race of their lives, and it was surreal and wonderful to be in the thick of it all. Plus, it affords some of the most incredible views of the full house at Churchill Downs I’ve ever seen.

I headed over to Bob Baffert’s barn before the walkover to find owner Ahmed Zayat conversing with his family and Pharoah’s exercise rider Georgie Alvarez.

I cannot begin to imagine the nervousness that the American Pharoah crew was feeling, but they didn’t have long to wait until the walkover began. When it was time, the Kentucky Derby runners congregated on the racetrack to begin the trek. American Pharoah looked unfazed by the whole process, and even pulled his groom Eduardo Luna toward the paddock as though he knew he had business to attend to.

While the Kentucky Derby contenders were in the paddock, I spotted this group of Pharoah phanatics in the crowd – they looked amazing and were clearly having the time of their lives!

And they were in for a treat, because the horse they were there to support put in an impressive performance, winning the Kentucky Derby to begin his journey toward Triple Crown glory.

It was the starting point of an historical Triple Crown bid, and American Pharoah’s connections celebrated in the winner’s circle like they knew that this was just the beginning.

Want to find out which events rank higher for me than the Kentucky Derby? I’ll be back tomorrow with my two favorite Pharoah memories. Until then, please let me know what your favorite American Pharoah moments are in the comments.