Baffert: American Pharoah is ‘my best hope for the Triple Crown’

American Pharoah galloped on the eve of his Belmont Stakes run (NYRA/Chelsea Durand/Adam Coglianese Photography)

After the final screws were tightened on Triple Crown
hopeful American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) on Friday morning, the colt’s connections were eagerly
anticipating Saturday’s $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1) while trying to
keep their emotions in check.

The Belmont will be contested by eight three-year-olds at the
distance of 1 1/2 miles during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, and it is the highlight of an extraordinary four-day weekend of
racing offering 17 graded stakes and six Grade 1 affairs alone on
Saturday’s card.

“Once the gates open, the weight will be off my shoulders,”
said Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who brought Silver Charm, Real Quiet and
War Emblem to a similar date with destiny before they were defeated in the “Test
of the Champion.”

“All the work is done now. From here on, we’ll try to relax
a little,” Baffert added. “We need to make sure the horse is content and continues to eat well,
and to stick to the same routine. And now we need to keep people away from him.”

The Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) winner was tucked into his
stall in Barn 1 after returning from the track for a routine morning gallop
under regular exercise rider Jorge Alvarez in his final public appearance before
the walkover on Saturday evening.

“Today’s morning gallop was the last hurdle. It was a
strong gallop and he floated over the track. He looks the same as he did out on
the track before the Derby and the Preakness,” Baffert said. “He looked like a
monster out there. I am really happy with the way he went. He’s still sharp.”

American Pharoah and equine pal Smokey have gained nationwide fame (NYRA/Susie Raisher/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Nevertheless, he reiterated on Friday morning that American
Pharoah is the most talented horse he has ever had in the barn. Despite missing
the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) due to a foot injury suffered only days before
the race, the Zayat Stables homebred still earned the
Eclipse Award as two-year-old champion male.

“He’s the best horse I’ve trained and he’s my best hope for
the Triple Crown,” Baffert stated. “He was the champion last year and this year he has
gone on and shown himself to be a superior horse. He has performed brilliantly.”

Owner Ahmed Zayat is also high on the beautifully conformed
bay colt. Not only is American Pharoah the picture of health, he has gained
weight during the grueling Triple Crown campaign that normally wears down and
lightens up a Thoroughbred.

“Look at him,” said an admiring Zayat, who was on hand for
the colt’s morning exercise, just as he has been every morning since Baffert’s
contingent of Festival horses arrived from California on Tuesday afternoon.
“This will be his fourth race (including victories in the Rebel S. [G2] and Arkansas Derby
[G1]) in eight weeks. That usually takes a toll on a horse
but he’s coming in to the race the best he can be. We’re coming in feeling that
he has a real shot to win the Triple Crown.”

Baffert concurred.

“I think I’m responsible for the (37-year) drought,” he
joked. “I probably should have won the Triple Crown a couple more times. This
fourth time will be different because I’m much older and mellower and I know
what I have to deal with so I’m not so overwhelmed.

American Pharoah received some love from Ahmed Zayat during his bath on Friday (Cecilia Gustavsson/Horsephotos.com)

American Pharoah, the 3-5 prohibitive early favorite in the
field of eight, must outlast and outrun the rest in the grueling 1 1/2-mile
race. Florida Derby (G1) hero Materiality (Afleet Alex) is gifted with early speed like
American Pharoah and Wood Memorial S. (G1) victor Frosted (Tapit) can rate off
the pace. U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) scorer Mubtaahij (Dubawi) and Preakness
runner-up Tale of Verve (Tale of Ekati) figure to be closing late.

“Frosted and Materiality are the key horses to contend
with, but I can’t worry about Materiality pushing us. When we’re going a mile
and a half, I just want a clean break,” Baffert said.

After California Chrome came up short and missed the Triple
Crown last year, his disgruntled owner charged that Tonalist (Tapit), the Belmont
Stakes winner, got a lucky break because he and others in the field had skipped the
Kentucky Derby and/or Preakness to come into the race fresh, so the rules that
have remained in effect since Sir Barton became the first Triple Crown winner in
1919 ought to be revised.

In a far more sporting gesture, Zayat would have none of
that. He said he holds the 11 previous winners in the highest regard and the
rules should stand as written.