‘Pharoah’ Confirmed for Travers
Updated: August 23, 2015 at 10:59 pm
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) was confirmed for the Aug. 29 GI Travers S. after impressing connections with a seven-furlong work at Del Mar Sunday. The Zayat Stables’ runner worked in 1:23.20 under Martin Garcia, registering splits of :23.00, :47.20, :58.80 and 1:10.60 and galloping out a mile in 1:36.40. It was the fastest of two at the distance at Del Mar Sunday and his six-furlong time bettered the day’s bullet move of 1:12.20 at that distance.
“He was more aggressive today,” trainer Bob Baffert said after the work. “He didn’t work all that fast last week and he wanted to get into it today. We wanted to see where his energy level is–to be sure he still has it. It’s incredible that he does after all this. Then again, he’s an incredible horse.”
Shortly after the work, Zayat Stables tweeted “American Pharoah is Saratoga bound!”
American Pharoah, who completed his Triple Crown sweep with the June 6 GI Belmont S., returned to action with a facile victory in the Aug. 2 GI William Hill Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.
Sunday’s work was the colt’s second since the Haskell. He went four furlongs last Sunday in :47.60.
American Pharoah’s participation will increase the purse for the Travers from $1.25 million to $1.6 million, with attendance already capped at a sold-out 50,000.
“This is a great day for racing fans in Saratoga, across the state of New York and throughout our nation,” said Christopher Kay, Chief Executive Officer and NYRA President. “We are honored that the Zayats are bringing Triple Crown champion American Pharoah to historic Saratoga Race Course, and plan to run ‘The People’s Horse’ in the nation’s Mid-Summer Derby. We are also deeply appreciative of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, and know that training a Triple Crown winner is an incredible, pressure-packed assignment. The New York Racing Association is grateful for Bob’s confidence, and we look forward to adding a new exciting chapter into the already rich history of Saratoga Race Course Aug. 29.”