The Return of the King: Triple Crown Winner American Pharoah Parades At Churchill

American Pharoah came to Churchill Downs early to prepare for the Kentucky Derby and he stayed late to celebrate winning the Triple Crown, as a Downs After Dark crowd some estimated to be in excess of 40,000 cheered the champion as owner Ahmed Zayat, trainer Bob Baffert, and their families basked in the admiration of the reveling masses.

"The greatest athlete in America" -someone in the crowd @ChurchillDowns pic.twitter.com/xRfOJ7bnHP

— TwinSpires.com (@TwinSpires) June 14, 2015

Baffert is based in Southern California, and American Pharoah will return to the Racing Hall of Fame conditioner’s base this month, but in the meantime he has become a sort of adopted son of Kentucky and especially Louisville where he prepared for all three legs of the Triple Crown following wins in the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby on the Road to the Kentucky Derby at Oaklawn Park.

And American Pharoah’s extended family came out in full force on Stephen Foster Handicap night at Churchill Downs where the colt paraded in the paddock before his connections received their Kentucky Derby trophies.

Zayat said following the presentation that the Haskell Invitational Stakes on August 2 at Monmouth Park is the most likely next start for American Pharoah.

Triple crown winner American Pharoah enters the @ChurchillDowns paddock https://t.co/Ipvv3SOxBU

— TwinSpires.com (@TwinSpires) June 14, 2015