Being Justin Zayat: Full Schedule, Low Stress

Justin Zayat (right) and family at Oaklawn Park. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire unless noted)
While he waits to see his family’s Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in a career finale Saturday in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Justin Zayat gets to hurry up and wait with the rest of us. But for the 23-year-old racing and stable manager for Zayat Stables, that wait will be a whirlwind experience in Lexington, Ky. Zayat took a few minutes in the middle of all that today to field 10 more questions from America’s Best Racing. 
Rain kept American Pharoah in the barn today at Keeneland. How does that impact his schedule for the rest of the week? And how does that impact your stress level going into the Breeders’ Cup Classic?
We had a monsoon this morning, but the horse looks great. He shipped great. We just tack-walked him around the barn, and tomorrow he’ll go out. He was playful this morning. Even when he walks around the barn, his ears are pricked. Me? My stress level is fine. There’s nothing to stress about right now. We have a horse that’s doing well. You see (trainer) Bob (Baffert). He’s relaxed. He’s having a good time. The only time there’s stress is when there’s an issue, when there’s something wrong. There’s anxiety, but that’s not stress. It’s just nerves.
AMERICAN PHAROAH WALKING THE SHEDROW

Photo by Keeneland/Coady Photography
I imagine you and your family have had a lot of invitations and demands on your time this week. How do you decide who gets a yes and who gets a no?
We try to do every single thing possible. For the most part everything was planned already. We’re going to all these events throughout the week like the TCA – the Thoroughbred Charities of America dinner last night. And the (National Turf Writers and Broadcasters) dinner to get an award tonight. And the WinStar Farms dinner tomorrow. We want to give back to racing and to the community here as well. As long as I have time for someone I’ll do it. Usually I do things on a first-come, first-served basis. If there’s an interview or a meeting, I’ll check my schedule and I’ll try to be around. 
Do you have a favorite restaurant that you always go to when you are in Lexington?
My favorite restaurant is Dudley's On Short. My first time there was last year. I went there last night with Bob and my dad. They have steak, they have fish. It's just a regular, nice dinner place. It has everything you might want – except pizza.
Do you have a favorite way to bet on the Breeders’ Cup?
No, not really. I’m honestly there more just to enjoy the day. I look at the races, and I may play a Pick 4, but I really just like watching all these great horses competing against each other. The Breeders’ Cup is every racing fan’s dream. Sometimes I’d just rather watch the races and not even have to wager on them. I enjoy that, too.
Can you give us an update on the 2-year-old horses in the Zayat Stables?
They’re doing well. King Kranz is by Munnings. He’s trained by John Terranova on the east coast. He ran second in the Grade 2 Futurity (on Oct. 17) at Belmont. ... The funny thing is he’s still a maiden, so we could drop him down to a maiden race or run him in a stakes at Laurel on the 14th. Justin Squared is a Zensational colt; he won first out for Bob at Del Mar (Sept. 5), and he won pretty impressively. His name is Justin Squared because he happened to be bought for us by (agent) Justin Casse. But it’s too soon to say there’s going to be another American Pharoah. You’re going to hear a lot from our crop around January. We really gear most of our horses toward their 3-year-old year. Right now other than the race here, I’m most pumped that (three-time graded-stakes winner) El Kabeir is entered on Saturday in the (Grade 3) Bold Ruler Stakes at Belmont. El Kabeir and American Pharoah are the two horses I get pumped about the most right now.
ZAYAT, BAFFERT AND VICTOR ESPINOZA

Will you be attending the Fasig-Tipton broodmare sale in Lexington the day after the Classic?
I’m not exactly sure yet. There’s a good chance, but there’s no plan past Saturday now. We don’t buy that many broodmares, so it really doesn’t take a lot of work to get ready for that sale. It’s not complicated.
The Breeders’ Cup Classic is on Halloween. We have seen some Pharoah costumes already on social media. What do you think would be the quintessential Pharoah disguise for fans going to the Breeders’ Cup?
I’ve seen people dress in the pharaoh look. The headdress and the costume. They’re dressed like an American pharoah human instead of American Pharoah the horse. But horse heads and horse costumes that two people would get into? I haven’t seen any of that yet. It’s too early.
American Pharoah famously made an appearance last month on ESPN’s ‘College GameDay.’ He even correctly picked UCLA to beat Arizona. So who does he rank in college football’s top four?
I don’t think he follows college football all that closely. He’s more focused on his own career than football right now.
Has Donald Trump asked you for tickets to the Breeders’ Cup?
No, he has not. Of course, I’d give Donald Trump tickets. Why would we not want to give Donald Trump tickets? It would be great for horse racing if he came to the Breeders’ Cup. I’m all about promoting horse racing. Any way we can promote horse racing in a positive light I’m all for. Always. 
You have told us you do not lean on superstitions. But you must have heard others. What are some of the more memorable things people have done to bring good luck to American Pharoah?
Some people either keep something in their pocket or don’t change their tie or something like that. I’ve heard everything, but nothing crazy. Nothing that memorable. It’s really all about the race.