American Pharoah Gallops on Training Track

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah received his first look at a Keeneland track Oct. 29, though it was not the surface he'll race on Oct. 31 in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).

Zayat Stables' American Pharoah galloped 2 1/2 times around the five-furlong Keeneland training track, which features a Polytrack surface. The Triple Crown winner entered the training track just after 8:30 a.m. EDT and walked in the opposite direction through the straightaway under exercise rider Georgie Alvarez. He then turned around and eased into a gallop.

Under blue skies with high clouds, American Pharoah looked like he wanted to do more, but Alvarez kept him on schedule during the gallop before about 500 people.

"He was pretty aggressive and full of himself," said trainer Bob Baffert. "He seemed to enjoy himself; it was pretty encouraging what we saw today."

While the sun came out Thursday morning, Lexington received more rain and Keeneland's main track was sloppy in the morning. The track condition prompted trainer Baffert to gallop the Triple Crown winner on the Polytrack rather than the main dirt surface.

Baffert noted that American Pharoah wears a special shoe and sometimes an off-track can pull on such a shoe. Baffert opted for the cautious route and had not decided if he'll gallop American Pharoah on the main track or training track Friday.

"When the track starts to dry out like that, it can get a little deep," Baffert said. "He wears a plate (shoe) and a track like that can pull it off. I didn't want to take any chances here so I took him to the training track."

American Pharoah may end up being the final horse to win a grade I race on a synthetic surface in the U.S. with his win in the Del Mar Futurity (gr. I). There are no grade I races in the U.S. on synthetic surfaces this season.