Dual classic winner American Pharoah impressed trainer Bob Baffert and onlookers at Churchill Downs the morning of May 26 when the colt breezed four furlongs in :48 in preparation for the June 6 Belmont Stakes.
With jockey Martin Garcia flying in from California for the work, the son of Pioneerof the Nile , registered fractions of :12 1/5, :24, and :35 4/5. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 and six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 on the fast track. Zayat Stables' homebred American Pharoah is seeking to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978
"He was pretty spectacular out there," said Hall of Famer Baffert, who arrived in Louisville late Monday and was at his Churchill barn at 6 a.m. Tuesday to oversee works. "I really like the way he went today. He showed he had a lot of energy,"
Earlier, Baffert had said he was looking for an easy work, perhaps in :49 and change for the half-mile, but he had Garcia do a little more after he saw how the colt looked on the track.
"He took off at the 4 1/2 (furlong) going really easy, so I told Martin to keep letting him go," Baffert said.
American Pharoah has won six graded stakes since finishing third in his career debut. He's coming off an impressive seven-length triumph in the Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes over a sloppy track that was preceded by an impressive win in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands.
Tuesday's work ranked fifth of 22 at the four-furlong distance at Churchill Downs.
"That's Pharoah," Baffert said of how the colt looks after his two classic victories. "When he's on his game, that's the way he looks."
Baffert said Pharoah has come back well off his recent wins that also included the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby.
"Those races at Oaklawn Park were easy races," Baffert said. "The Derby was a hard race. It really got him fit. The Preakness he handled really well. He just makes my job easier because he's such a good horse."
Garcia said American Pharoah is an improving horse, noting "he's more mature" than earlier in his career.
"Super good; really, really good," Garcia said in describing American Pharoah, who is ridden in his races by Victor Espinoza.
Baffert said he will return to Churchill over the weekend and American Pharoah will put in his final Belmont work Sunday, May 31, or Monday, June 1, before shipping to Belmont Park on Tuesday, June 2.