American Pharoah 1-5 favorite for Haskell in 8-horse field

“With the Derby purse at $2 million and the Preakness and Belmont going to $1.5 million, it’s only fitting that we join in that mix for our race, which has proven itself the next logical step for 3-year-olds following the Triple Crown”.

In addition to NBC’s national coverage of the race, a bevy of local television crews will descend upon the track with satellite trucks, starting with the expected arrival of American Pharoah, via police escort from Atlantic City global Airport, on Wednesday. The van he was loaded into was decked out like Taylor Swift’s tour bus with his name splashed across the side.

American Pharoah is a seasoned traveler and, according to New Jersey program director E.J. He said American Pharoah’s owners, Ahmed Zayat and his family, would be consulted as to the distance (though probably 1 1/8 miles) and date.

“[Pharoah has] been training very well”, Baffert said. As always, bath time was a photo op as about 40 people, professionals and amateurs, snapped away with cell phones and heavy cameras with massive zoom lenses. “We went through a lot of considerations and really didn’t make a decision until yesterday”, Drazin said.

To keep it simple, every horse will be chasing after Bob Baffert’s American Pharoah on Sunday.

Upstart, whose trainer, Rick Violette Jr., committed to the $1.75 million Haskell on Wednesday, has been made the second choice on the morning line at 6-1. American Pharoah will begin his campaign to become horse racing’s first Grand Slam victor at the “Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In” race on Sunday. “Its awesome what hes been through (and) is still right there just holding his form…. His final timed workout was a half mile in 48.80 seconds Tuesday morning at Del March The colt with the short tail will have easy gallops here on the three mornings leading up to race day.

Mr. Baffert, who is based in California, has enjoyed success running his horses in New Jersey, winning the Haskell a record seven times, including last year with Bayern.

Still, Kelly said authorities are “very well prepared” to handle the crowds. “We have all of these different pockets that are budgeted, and the money came from there – some from the operating budget, some from the marketing budget”.

TVG posted video of the six-furlong view to YouTube on Thursday.