Churchill offers special training period for American Pharoah, Belmont hopefuls

American Pharoah is picture perfect ahead of his Belmont bid (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography)

Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof
the Nile) galloped 1 3/16 miles on
the fast Churchill Downs main track at approximately 8:30 a.m. (EDT) Sunday morning under
partly cloudy skies with regular exercise rider Jorge Alvarez in the irons.

Jimmy Barnes, chief assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, said that the
Zayat Stables’ homebred continues to train well and he’s happy with
the way the horse looks going into the $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1) on June 6.

Also on target for the Belmont is Peter Pan S. (G2) second Conquest Curlinate
(Curlin), who jogged and galloped one mile under exercise rider Marco Cano for
trainer Mark Casse. Multiple Grade 2-placed War Story (Northern Afleet) jogged a mile and galloped 1
1/2 miles with exercise rider Marvin Orantes up for trainer
Tom Amoss.

Fellow multiple Grade 2-placed Keen Ice (Curlin) galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Faustno Agular for trainer Dale Romans.

American Pharoah (Barn 33), Conquest Curlinate (Barn 36), Keen Ice (Barn
4) and War Story (Barn 29) are the locally-based Belmont Stakes contenders
stabled at Churchill Downs.

With that group stabled on the grounds, Churchill will
offer a special 8:30-8:45 a.m. training period for those horses starting on
Monday. Additionally, area horse racing fans are invited to watch those colts
train from the first floor of the facility, including the new Courtyard area,
free of charge.

Churchill will open its Gate 17 entrance between 8-9 a.m.
each morning through Tuesday, June 2, so the public can watch American Pharoah
and his rivals prepare for the 1 1/2-mile third jewel of the Triple
Crown.

Fans can see the Churchill-based Belmont contenders, including American Pharoah, during a special training period (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography)

“Our switchboard has received a number of calls from avid fans looking to
get a glimpse of American Pharoah and this is a great way to showcase the stars
of our sport to an audience yearning for more,” said Kevin Flanery, president of
Churchill Downs Racetrack. “It’s always exciting to have a Kentucky Derby winner
back in training at Churchill Downs, but it’s extra special to have American
Pharaoh here preparing for a possible sweep of the elusive Triple Crown.

“A big ‘Thank You’ goes out to our local horsemen and staff for accommodating
our request to host this special training period for the horses and fans.”

As a result, training hours at Churchill Downs will be 5:45-10 a.m. daily
through Tuesday, June 2, the date many of the Belmont Stakes contenders will
ship to New York. The special training period over a freshly-harrowed and
congestion-free track will follow the traditional 8-8:30 a.m. renovation break.

Churchill Downs has a
special box seat package for the Belmont 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 that features a
victorious American Pharaoh. Fans can purchase the package by visiting the
online box office.