Being Justin Zayat: Pharoah Buzz Building for Classic

Justin Zayat (center) was part of a large group of onlookers at Keeneland Race Course Thursday morning to watch Triple Crown winner American Pharoah exercise on Thursday morning. (Photo by Penelope P. Miller/America's Best Racing)
The past day has been routinely eventful for Justin Zayat. All he and his family did in less than 24 hours was watch their Triple Crown-winning star American Pharoah get out on the training track here at Keeneland to prepare for Saturday’s Breeders’ Cup Classic and make a big donation to a scholarship fund. Right after Pharoah’s gallop this morning, the 23-year-old racing and stable manager for Zayat Stables talked about the past day and more in his exclusive Q&A with America’s Best Racing.
1. The buzz is heightening again for another big race, isn’t it? Even though there are no seats, a lot of people were hovering around the training track to see American Pharoah gallop this morning. Yet we are less than 60 hours from having it all end when he is retired from racing. What are your feelings?
How sad is that? It’s getting close. We’re starting to feel it. It’s coming to an end. I’m looking forward to the race first, and dealing with the rest after that. It’s just going to be weird. It’s going to be a change. The last 15 months, every day I’ve been thinking about Pharoah, Pharoah, Pharoah. When Sunday comes, what’s going on next? Me, the whole family … everyone has become so attached to this horse. I’m attached to all my horses; I love them all. But obviously American Pharoah has done something different.
2. How did Pharoah look to you on his gallop on the all-weather track this morning?
He looked great. He looked sharp this morning. He didn’t really go out yesterday [because of heavy rain], so we knew today he’d be sharp, and that’s how he looked. Safety comes first. We left it to [trainer] Bob [Baffert]. Bob wanted to go toward the training track [because the main, dirt track was still muddy], so that’s where we went.
AMERICAN PHAROAH'S THURSDAY MORNING GALLOP AT KEENELAND

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
3. The big news today was Beholder being scratched out of the Classic because of a bleeding episode after she galloped this morning. What was your reaction when you heard the news?
I was so upset when I saw that. When I saw it on Twitter, I thought it was terrible. I know that position first hand. We had it happen last year [when American Pharoah was scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile because of a bruised foot]. I feel bad for the connections, but I also commend them. They’re putting the horse first. She had a huge year this year. I hope she’ll have another huge year next year. I’m always a Beholder fan. I was looking forward to facing her.
4. Looking around here at this beautiful setting with the vast, green hills tailor-made for raising horses. What makes this place so special?
It’s the bluegrass. This is where all the horses are born. There’s a lot of horse-racing passion in the world, but when you come to Lexington and you especially come to Keeneland, there’s no bigger passion for racing and appreciation of the horse. You come to Keeneland, people are educated horse-racing fans. They know how to read the [Daily Racing] Form. They know a good horse and bad horse. This is the place to be.
FANS CHECK OUT THE HORSES IN THE KEENELAND PADDOCK

Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
5. Do you routinely tour the Thoroughbred farms here?
Not this trip, but I’ve been to them all. I’ve been to WinStar; I’ve been to Lane’s End; I’ve been to Gainesway; I’ve been to Hill ‘n’ Dale … all these great farms. It’s a great experience. I recommend if everyone can get the opportunity to go they should check them out. I’ve brought friends with me before, and we’re actually going to WinStar today for the Taste of the World event. My family is coming in, my girlfriend, family friends – I’m excited for them to see WinStar, because they haven’t been there.
6. What tips would you give for horse lovers to see these farms?
First, I would contact to farm to make sure they know you’re coming. Most of these farms have tours that they give, so you want to be part of the tour. You want to see the whole facility. Other than that I recommend seeing the great stallions. You go to Coolmore, you get to see Giant’s Causeway and Scat Daddy. You go to WinStar, you see Bodemeister and [American Pharoah’s sire Pioneerof the Nile. It’s exciting to see all the great superstars who are already retired. Hopefully, I can do the same for American Pharoah in a couple months.
7. That reminds me. I am relaying this question for you from Twitter. When will Pharoah actually be transferred to Coolmore Stud?
We have not discussed that yet. We are only thinking toward Saturday right now. We have not even thought about anything after. For sure, he’ll be there for [the spring] breeding season. But we’re going to sit down with the Coolmore folks, with Bob and the team and discuss the best way for the champ to go out.
8. If you are just casually at the track, where is your favorite place to watch the races?
Along the rail. Straight on the finish line of course. You get to hear the horses go by. That’s when you hear all the action. When you’re up top, it just looks like horses. But when you’re down there, you hear the jockeys talking to each other. It’s just like today. You hear Pharoah training, and we’re all so close to him. You hear [exercise rider] Jorge [Álvarez] saying, ‘Easy, boy.’ It’s cool when you hear that.
JUSTIN ZAYAT, AHMED ZAYAT AND BOB BAFFERT WAIT FOR AMERICAN PHAROAH'S MORNING EXERCISE ON THURSDAY

Photo by Eclipse Sportsire
9. When fans are surrounding the paddock and looking at horses before a race, what should they look for?
Not looking at the Form or anything, just looking at the athlete you want to look at them coming in. You want them to look fit. You want them to look good. You don’t want them to look like they’re getting worked up and too sweaty and not in their own, comfortable setting. That’s what I look for in a horse. You want to make sure they’re all walking well and they look athletic and they’re tucked up. I don’t mind the size of the horse too much, unless you’re really too small or really too big. I don’t want to see a Yao Ming out there. Dortmund is a big horse, but he’s not too big for me.
10. Finally, your father, Ahmed Zayat, announced Wednesday night that he is giving $100,000 to the National Turf Writers and Broadcasters to help fund its scholarship program for future racing journalists. Could you expand on that donation?
He believes that you guys [racing journalists] do more for the sport than you’re credited for. You tell a story. It’s not just about who wins the race or who trains the horse. There are good stories and bad stories, and you tell them both. It’s up to [the NTWAB] how they’re going to spend it, but he envisions that they will use the money to give a scholarship or send people to master’s school or mentoring or training. He really believes that you guys work hard, and he wants to see more great writers to tell great stories.