American Pharoah arrives at Churchill

American Pharoah surveys the scene at Barn 33 (Churchill/Reed Palmer Photo via @KentuckyDerby Twitter)

Two days after dominating the Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park, likely
Kentucky Derby (G1) favorite American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) flew
to Louisville, Kentucky, Monday afternoon and made his eagerly awaited arrival
at Churchill Downs.

Last year’s champion two-year-old male settled into Barn 33 — the usual spot
for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s horses. American Pharoah was greeted by
Baffert’s chief assistant, Jimmy Barnes, who had arrived ahead of time. The
Zayat Stables homebred also enjoyed a relaxing bath, broadcast by Churchill via
the Periscope app.

“The horse looked like he traveled very well — he’s a good traveler,” Barnes
said. “The reason why we came here so early is that we were already halfway
here. You don’t want to go back to California and then come back to Churchill.

“We’re at Churchill and he’ll just take it easy,” he added of plans in the
lead-up to the May 2 Run for the Roses. “He doesn’t need to do much.  He’ll
breeze one time before the race.”

American Pharoah was accompanied on the H.E. “Tex” Sutton Forwarding
Company charter flight from Little Rock, Arkansas, by Saturday’s Northern Spur
S. winner Wolf Man Rocket (Mineshaft).

Stablemates Maybellene (Lookin at Lucky) and Hoppertunity (Any Given
Saturday), respectively candidates for the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Alysheba (G2),
also settled into Churchill Monday. Fellow Baffert trainees Fame and Power
(First Defence), third in Saturday’s Lexington (G3), and Fantastic Style
(Harlan’s Holiday), third in Sunday’s Beaumont (G2), were vanned to Barn 33 from
Keeneland on Monday morning.

Harry Rosenblum and Bob LaPenta’s Arkansas Derby runner-up Far Right
(Notional) was also booked on the flight and headed to trainer Ron Moquett’s
Barn 10 with multiple stakes-winning sprinter Gentlemen’s Bet (Half Ours).

Four horses conditioned by trainer Todd Pletcher — Arkansas Derby fourth
Madefromlucky (Lookin at Lucky), Oaklawn H. (G2) winner Race Day (Tapit) and fourth-place
finisher Golden Lad (Medaglia d’Oro) and Fantasy (G3) seventh Feathered (Indian
Charlie) — were on the flight but joined Pletcher’s string at Keeneland.