Parx to Offer 'Pretty Aggressive' Bonus to Lure Pharoah

In the swirling, indefinite haze of which races might be next for Triple Crown champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile), the Aug. 2 GI Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park and the Oct. 31 GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland Race Course loom as the most logical, according to tentative plans put forth by the colt's connections in myriad published reports.

But the 13-week gap between those two starts remains a wild card, and it could shape up as a prime spot for an outlier track to step up with a creative bonus scheme or a lucrative appearance fee to lure the most sought-after horse in America.

In the aftermath of his GI Belmont Stakes win, trainer Bob Baffert was noncommittal, even somewhat tepid, to the idea that American Pharoah might attempt the GI Travers S. at Saratoga Race Course on Aug 29, four weeks after running in the Haskell.

But American Pharoah would undoubtedly need at least one prep race somewhere between early August and late October if he's to become the first Thoroughbred to win what is coming into vogue as racing's “Grand Slam” (a Triple Crown sweep capped by a win in the Classic).

Parx Racing is aiming to position itself as a frontrunner committed to snagging American Pharoah, and will do so by floating a “pretty aggressive” financial bonus package tied to the G2 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 19, Parx director of racing Sam Elliott told TDN.

“I tell people [Philadelphia] could have American Pharoah one weekend, the pope the next,” Elliott said, referring to Pope Francis's scheduled visit to Philly Sept. 26-27.

Elliott said the existing conditions of the Pennsylvania Derby are already written to pay a $100,000 appearance bonus, split between the owner and trainer, to any horse that wins any one of the Triple Crown races, the Haskell, or the Travers. The per-race bonuses are cumulative, so American Pharoah's connections, Elliott said, could be in line for at least a $300,000 base payday just for showing up at Parx, or $400,000 if the horse wins the Haskell.

“And I believe we intend to make a little better offer than that,” Elliott said, without disclosing how much more Parx would be willing to pay above the announced bonuses. “I'm going to try in the not-too-distant future to go to wherever Mr. Baffert is and meet with him to talk about it.”
Last year, under a similar appearance-fee system, Parx lured both GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. winner California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) and Haskell winner Bayern (Offlee Wild) to the Pennsylvania Derby. California Chrome ($200,000 bonus) was eased in the final sixteenth of a mile and finished sixth, but the Baffert-trained Bayern ($100,000 bonus) wired the field and went on to win the BC Classic.

“Hopefully,” Elliott said, referencing Baffert's positive experience at Parx, “that will play into it” this year.

Published reports estimated last year's no-admission-fee attendance at Parx as 16,000. Elliot guessed that if his racino managed to lure the Triple Crown winner this year, the turnout would be “as many as we could fit” on the property.
“We've been talking about this for a few weeks, the 'what ifs,' and we'd probably have to rethink the property, where you'd put people,” Elliott said. “The good thing about Parx is it sits on an enormous piece of land. It's almost 500 acres, so we do have some options that we can do operationally.

“Obviously people want to see him,” Elliott concluded. “He's a rock star.”

But Parx won't be alone in courting the Triple Crown winner. The GI Pacific Classic at Del Mar is another possibility, although American Pharoah would have to take on older horses in that Aug. 22 race for 3-year-olds and up.

Joe Harper, Del Mar's president and chief executive officer, did not return a phone message before deadline for this story, but he told the San Diego Union-Tribune earlier this week that as long as it does not involve changing the date of the Pacific Classic to suit American Pharoah, Del Mar would be willing to make the race “attractive enough to snag him.”
Harper said added funds could move the total purse of the Pacific Classic north of its current $1 million.

“We want to make sure we're in position to compete for his appearance,” Harper told the Union Tribune. “Some tracks do [appearance fees] one way or other. I'm not saying Del Mar is coming up with an appearance fee. I'd much rather get into a bonus arrangement with some other tracks. That's one way to go. And we have sponsors involved, and they'd be interested in increasing the purse structure. All those things play into it.”

American Pharoah lost his career debut at Del Mar in 2014 then broke his maiden with a win in the GI Del Mar Futurity. Those races were run over Polytrack, and Del Mar is switching back to a conventional dirt surface for the 2015 meet.
Sal Sinatra instituted the Parx bonus system last year before switching jobs to become the Maryland Jockey Club vice president and general manager. But he said neither Pimlico Race Course nor Laurel Park will actively courting the Preakness winner to run back in the state again this year.

“We'd love to have him, but I don't think I have a race for him,” Sinatra said. He added that the concept of tracks going out of their way to draw up a special race for a specific star horse—like a number of venues did to compete for Cigar in the mid-1990s—doesn't quite work as well for 3-year-olds as it does for older handicap horses.

“We really don't think creating a half-million or million-dollar race for a 3-year-old that's ungraded would do [American Pharoah] any good,” Sinatra said.

TDN attempted to reach officials from the two other Triple Crown tracks, Churchill Downs and Belmont Park, to find out if those racing associations would be pursuing American Pharoah for races in August, September or October. But voicemail and email messages were not returned before deadline for this story.

American Pharoah is scheduled to parade in the paddock and on track at Churchill Downs during this Saturday's twilight racing program. The colt is currently stabled at Churchill.

Baffert told the Albany Times Union last Sunday that “If American Pharoah goes to the Haskell, it's hard to make that [Travers] double for some reason. Saratoga is sort of a gimmicky race track. I don't think you can do both [Haskell-Travers]. I did it with Point Given, but it was a little hard on him.”