American Pharoah Records Final Workout

There was only one worker out on the Santa Anita Park main track to kick off the 7:45 a.m. training session Oct. 26, but there was still a crowd of horsemen out in the grandstand to watch the horse, as if he were their own.



They wanted to get a live look at greatness one last time, and they were treated to American Pharoah's last published workout of his career under a cloudless, bright blue Southern California sky.



The first Triple Crown winner in 37 years breezed four furlongs in :46 2/5, with a gallop out to five furlongs in :59 2/5, under the watchful and slightly nervous view of trainer Bob Baffert. It was the Pioneerof the Nile   colt's final workout for Zayat Stables in preparation for the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Keeneland.



"It went really well," Baffert said. "I was debating whether to work him in company—like, maybe put a target in front—but we just wanted to cruise around there and it was nice that we had the track to ourselves. He looked like Pharoah."



The drill under regular workout rider Martin Garcia was a little faster than expected, but the Hall of Fame trainer was still pleased with the result



"He did it the right way," Baffert said. "We were looking for around :47 and change, but I just told Martin, 'Keep him in hand and let him cruise around there.' That's what he did. He could have slowed him down a little bit, but he was doing it the right way. I was pretty impressed. Going into this race, he's ready to roll."



The move was also American Pharoah's last trip over the Santa Anita track that has been his home for most of his career. After the Classic, he'll head to Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Lexington to pursue his next career in breeding.



"Walking up here, I was getting a little bit emotional," Baffert said. "I was excited to watch him work, and got a little bit nervous about the work, so I was talking to Martin the whole way around. But to see him come down the stretch breezing that last time—it was great the way he was doing it; I was happy the way he was doing it—but a little piece of me said, 'it's a little bit sad.'



"I'm so proud of the horse. What he's done for me and my staff and the Zayats—it's just an incredible feeling."



Sentiment aside, however, American Pharoah still has one last race to run and a flight to catch before that. He'll depart Southern California early Oct. 27.



"We have to ship and the ship has to go well," Baffert said. "From here on out, everything has to go perfect for us... But he knows. It doesn't matter where he goes. He's handled it very well so far. He's used to everything—the crowd, the paddock—he's just that kind of horse.



"It makes my life so much easier, but that's because he's so great. He can handle it mentally."