SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- With a dozen roses and about 300 people waiting to greet him, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah arrived at Saratoga Race Course on Wednesday and was led off a horse van next to his barn after a flight from California.
American Pharoah seemed to be adjusting well to his new home leading up to Saturday's Travers Stakes. He was walked around the barn area by Jimmy Barnes, trainer Bob Baffert's assistant, and then given a sponge bath.
The colt left Del Mar in California on Wednesday morning, arrived at the airport in Albany about 2 p.m., and was given a police escort up Interstate 87. The Pharoah entourage pulled into the backstretch just before 3 p.m., where hundreds of fans, media members and the mayor of Saratoga had gathered.
One fan left a dozen roses in a vase on a table in the courtyard by American Pharoah's barn. The first Triple Crown winner in 37 years was led into his stall following his bath. The horse is staying in the barn of trainer John Terranova.
"It was actually a fairly quick trip, 12 hours stall-to-stall," Barnes said. "Traveling with Pharoah, they make it very convenient for us. We're the last one to show up to the plane and the first one off. Everybody has been very cooperative with that."
A winner in eight straight races after a career-opening loss, American Pharoah is scheduled for a Thursday morning jog and a Friday morning gallop that will be open to the public.
American Pharoah drew the No. 2 post and is the 1-5 favorite in the 10-horse Travers field. If he starts, the purse of the 1 1/4-mile race increases by $350,000 to $1.6 million, with the winner earning $850,000.
American Pharoah, owned by Ahmed Zayat, is trying to become the second Triple Crown winner to go on and win the Travers. Whirlaway did it in 1941.
If all goes according to plan, American Pharoah will run his final race in the Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., and then be retired to Coolmore's Ashford Stud.
"You just really have to enjoy it because he's only going to be around so long," Barnes said, "and when this is all over I'm sure we're going to miss him. At times it gets a little hectic but you've just got to sit back and just enjoy it. You're blessed to be here."
Oaklawn's gates open for simulcasting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Saratoga's first race starting at 10:45 local time. The card includes six Grade 1 races and a Grade 2 event, featuring Oaklawn Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap winner Untapable in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign.
Sports on 08/27/2015