American Pharoah gallops, Conquest Curlinate breezes, at Churchill

American Pharoah is eyeing an historic sweep of the Triple Crown (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography)

Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) hero American Pharoah (Pioneerof
the Nile) had his first gallop on Friday at Churchill Downs since his seven-length romp in last
Saturday’s second jewel of the Triple Crown.

The Zayat Stables homebred is readying for the final leg of the Triple
Crown, the $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1) on June 6, and galloped 1 3/16 miles over the Churchill main track
at 8:30 a.m. (EDT), following the renovation break, with exercise rider Jorge
Alvarez up.

“It went nice, didn’t seem like he was tired or
anything,” Alvarez said. “He came back pretty much the same (after Derby). So
far, no difference.”

Alvarez says one of the biggest qualities that
American Pharoah has is his ability to cover a lot of ground.

“His stride is very different from a lot of horses
— that’s an advantage,” he stated.

Alvarez, who has worked horses for trainer Bob
Baffert for seven years, also was the exercise rider for Pioneerof the Nile,
American Pharoah’s sire.

“They are both good horses,” he said of the Zayat-owned father and son, “but since Day One this horse
(American Pharoah) has covered so much ground.”

Alvarez wouldn’t be disappointed if the track on
Belmont Day was similar to Pimlico on Preakness Day because of how well the
horse has handled an off surface. A deluge of rain turned the fast track into a
sloppy mess just as the call came for riders to mount for the Preakness. Aside from that
contest, American Pharoah triumphed in the slop at Oaklawn Park when he won the March 14 Rebel
S. (G2).

American Pharoah is progressing in his preparations for the Belmont Stakes (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography)

“It went very nice,” Barnes said. “He just had a 1
3/16-mile gallop today, but it went very nice. He’s perfect — just the way he
always is — so we’ll gallop a little bit further maybe tomorrow (Saturday) and
then by Sunday we’ll be back to his normal gallop at a mile-and-a-half.

“The best horses cover the track well — they have a large stride and they’re
big movers, which he is. Usually the good ones are like that.”

American Pharoah’s pursuit for racing immortality will mark
the 14th time — and third in the last four years — since Affirmed swept all
three races in 1978 that a horse has had a chance to join the 11 Triple Crown
champions.

According to reports, his challengers in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont could
include (with known jockeys) Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway), Conquest Curlinate (Curlin) (Shaun Bridgmohan),
Frammento (Midshipman) (Mike Smith), Frosted (Tapit) (Joel Rosario), Keen Ice
(Kent Desormeaux) (Curlin), Madefromlucky (Lookin at Lucky),
Materiality (Afleet Alex), Mubtaahij (Irad Ortiz) (Dubawi), Tale of Verve (Tale
of Ekati) (Gary Stevens) and War Story (Northern Afleet) (Colby
Hernandez).

Madefromlucky (yellow hat) and Conquest Curlinate (teal hat) will face off yet again in the Belmont Stakes (NYRA/Joe Labozzetta/Adam Coglianese Photography)

“The way he runs he doesn’t show a whole lot of early speed,” Norman Casse
said. “He’s always been a much more effective route horse obviously, so we think
the distance is just perfect for him. Plus, he has a race over the track which
we think is going to be pretty important. He obviously liked it.”

Conquest Curlinate was a
late-closing second in the Peter Pan S. (G2) at Belmont Park last out on May 9 behind Madefromlucky.
Prior to that, the gray colt just missed by a nose while making his stakes bow
in the Illinois Derby (G3).

In other Belmont Stakes news:

Jerry Crawford’s multiple Grade 2-placed Keen Ice
clocked three-quarters in 1:15 on Thursday. Trainer Dale Romans’ partner Tammy Fox
spoke highly of how the bay colt is preparing for the third and final jewel of
the Triple Crown.

“As of
yesterday, he’s coming into the race really, really good,” Fox said. “The work I
thought was super. He galloped out really well.”

Fox said that Keen Ice will likely work twice
before shipping to Belmont Park on Tuesday, June 2. She went on to say that she
is hopeful of how he’ll will handle the deep and sandy track at Belmont.

“I
hope he will,” Fox commented. “It takes a special horse to come in there and run
over that racetrack but he’s a big horse and a big grinder. I think he’ll handle
it just fine.”

Churchill Downs has a new special box seat package for the
Belmont Stakes simulcast. For $24, fans can get an undercover box seat,
official program, a domestic beer or souvenir soda and a custom, limited-edition
Kentucky Derby 141 T-Shirt featuring a victorious American Pharaoh.