American Pharoah tunes up for Breeders’ Cup finale

Shortly after Pharoah checked in from his equine charter, trainer Bob Baffert’s flight from his California operations touched down across Versailles Road. American Pharoah will break from post position No. 4 on Saturday in the Classic with Espinoza aboard.

“He fulfilled a goal for me that I wanted but thought was probably unreachable, and that was to win the Triple Crown”, Baffert said of the 3-year-old colt that has won eight of 10 career starts and earned $5,900,300.

“There has been public perception of lingering issues between the two parties, but I don’t think that has been the case”, Asher said.

American Pharoah will travel to Keeneland on Tuesday after his final pre-race work at Santa Anita Park on Monday morning – 46.6 seconds for a half mile with Martin Garcia aboard.

Golden Horn also has to overcome a rail-side draw in stall one on the tight Turf circuit but Dettori added: ‘I would rather be in one than 12.

Even though American Pharoah gave no signs of wear and tear over a campaign that saw him win six times before the Travers – including, of course, the tough Triple Crown – there was a few worry. “Unfortunately, he didn’t really run his race and coming out of it, I could tell everything… had kind of taken its toll”. Gary Stevens will ride Beholder, the second choice at 3-1 for the Classic.

There was an acre last week when she spiked a fever one day after landing in Kentucky, but all is well now with the brilliant mare, who has won 15 of her 20 career starts. Trainer Richard Mandella said she would either walk around the barn on Wednesday or get her exercise on the track.

In Friday’s races, Cymric is the 7-2 favorite in the $1 million Juvenile Turf; Liam’s Map is the even-money favorite for the $1 million Dirt Mile; and Harmonize is the 7-2 favorite for the $1 million Juvenile Fillies. “It’s a long run to the first turn. We’ll be all right”.

‘Golden Horn has been a dream horse for me and every challenge we have asked him, he has passed.

“Forever I’ll be in debt for how he changed all our lives, hopefully for the better”, Zayat said. “I will be confident with him”.