American Pharoah Goes to Main Track

The large crowds that had lined the Keeneland Race Course apron hoping to get a glimpse of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah the previous two days were nowhere around when the colt went to the main track Oct. 30.



With a group of Breeders' Cup ticketholders and industry participants such as owners, trainers, breeders, and agents looking on, the Zayat Stable runner who will be making his career finale in the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) galloped around the main track before returning to his barn at Keeneland's Rice Road stable area.



With Central Kentucky inundated with rain mid-week that rendered the Keeneland track sloppy, trainer Bob Baffert elected to keep American Pharoah in his barn Wednesday and sent him out over the training track Thursday under regular exercise rider George Alvarez.

ANGST: American Pharoah Gallops on Training Track

Owner Ahmed Zayat said the 3-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile   was "doing awesome. He's a happy horse. He's full of himself and ready to bounce. It's quite emotional knowing this is the last (gallop) for American Pharoah, but he's happy and healthy and that's what counts."

Following the Classic, American Pharoah will be retired to stud at Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky.

With an early 8 a.m. closing time for training at Keeneland, other Classic horses who went to the track in morning darkness included Tonalist, Honor Code, and Smooth Roller.



The early morning temperature was 39 degrees, with the forecast calling clouds giving way to sun and an afternoon high temperature of 58 for the first day of the World Championships highlighted by the Longines Distaff (gr. I).