With the Triple Crown in sight, there’s no time for American Pharoah to horse around.
American Pharoah, with jockey Martin Garcia on board, braved the elements Monday in Louisville, Ky., and completed a five-furlong breeze over a track at Churchill Downs in preparation for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes in Elmont, N.Y.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert admitted he gets nervous going into a breeze, but his 3-year-old thoroughbred completed the mile in a smooth 1 minute and 39.6 seconds.
“Everything went really well today,” Baffert said, per Churchill Downs press. “He went around there really nice, and it (rain) sort of let up a little bit when he worked, so it went just as we thought.”
Saturday will mark the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes, and the third time one of Baffert’s horses has been in a position to win the Triple Crown (Silver Charm, 1997), (Real Quiet, 1998) and (War Emblem, 2002).
“I think it’s big for the sport right now,” Baffert said. “This is a time where people are tuning in to see if it can happen, and I think that’s like any sport.”
American Pharoah departed from Louisville International Airport on Tuesday, as the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champion looks to extend his streak into the Belmont, becoming the first Triple Crown champion in 37 years.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
