American Pharoah posts bullet 6f in 1:11.40

Triple Crown champion American Pharoah recorded his first work over the new Del Mar dirt surface on Saturday.

With trainer Bob Baffert looking on, jockey Martin Garcia guided the Pioneerof the Nile colt through six furlongs in 1:11.40. Del Mar's official clockers caught American Pharoah in splits of :24, :36.20 and :59.20, with gallop out times of 1:24.40 and 1:38.40.

"We just go step-by-step with this horse," Baffert said. "Every work, every race we just go day-by-day."

American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years when romping by 5 1/2 lengths in the June 6 Belmont S. (G1).

The bay sophomore is now targeting the $1 million Haskell Invitational (G1) on August 2 at Monmouth Park.

That track released a list of probables for the Haskell:

·       Mr. Jordan (Kantharos) (Ed Plesa Jr.) – Last-out winner of the Pegasus S. (G3) at Monmouth

·       Competitive Edge (Super Saver) (Todd Pletcher) – Hero of last year’s Hopeful S. (G1) and this year’s Pat Day Mile (G3)

·       Stanford (Malibu Moon) (Todd Pletcher) – Last-out winner of the Long Branch S. at Monmouth

·       Tekton (Bernardini) (Tony Dutrow) – A head second while making his stakes bow in the Pegasus most recently

·       War Story (Northern Afleet) (Tom Amoss) – Multiple Grade 2-placed and most recently fourth in the Ohio Derby

Possible Haskell entrants include:

·       Keen Ice (Curlin) (Dale Romans) – Third in the Belmont S.

·       Bent on Bourbon (Arch) (Eddie Kenneally) – Easy winner of the Iowa Derby (G3) in his stakes bow last out

·       Good Pick Nick (Tapit) (Kiaran McLaughlin) – Third in the Pegasus

The 48th running of the Haskell will be telecast live on NBC from 5-6 p.m.  (EDT). Post time for the Haskell is scheduled for 5:52 p.m. and will be race 12 on the day’s 14-race card. Gates will open up at 9 a.m., with first post listed at 11:30 a.m.

American Pharoah photo courtesy of Benoit Photos