American Pharoah posts 5f move in :59.80 ahead of rain

Trainer Bob Baffert called an audible Saturday morning, sending out Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh to work over Santa Anita’s fast main track after the 6:30 a.m. (PDT) break to beat Sunday’s forecasted rain.

Jockey Martin Garcia was aboard the Pioneerof the Nile colt as he logged five furlongs in :59.80 in preparation for his final career start in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland on October 31.

“He went nice,” Baffert said. “He went around there like he always does, just cruising. I got him in 59 and two and let him do a little more today.

“He galloped out a strong seventh-eighths. I got him in (one) 12 and two (for six furlongs) and (one) 25 and four (for seven furlongs). He did it the right way. He did it without any effort. He’s right on schedule.”

Clocker Toby Turrell watched the move and said American Pharoah had “a powerful finish, the last eighth (of a mile) in 11 and three with his ears flapping like he was ready to keep on going all the way to Kentucky.”

Baffert had originally planned on working American Pharoah on Sunday and then shipping him to Kentucky to begin his final Classic preparations on Monday. Instead, the trainer tossed all those plans due to the forecasted rain.

“I was going to work him tomorrow, but we just moved it up a day because of the weather (forecast),” he explained.

“I don’t have a ship date right now. I was going to maybe ship him Monday, but we postponed that. We’re going to wait.”

Baffert was noncommittal on whether American Pharoah would ship to Keeneland or Churchill Downs ahead of the Classic.

“We don’t know yet,” he shrugged.

Photo screenshot from American Pharoah work