American Pharoah getting some R&R

While Bob Baffert has mentioned three races -- the $1 million Haskell

Invitational (G1) on August 2 at Monmouth Park, $600,000 Jim Dandy

S. (G2) on August 1 at Saratoga and $1.25 million Travers S. (G1) on August 29

at the Spa -- as "options" for American Pharoah's (Pioneerof the Nile) next race, any firm

commitment for the immediate future is on hold as the first Triple Crown winner

since Affirmed in 1978 recovers from the Rock Star treatment he's received since

capturing the Belmont S. (G1) on June 6.

"Every time we have an experience like we had yesterday, it

sort of brings back the feeling of winning the Triple Crown and seeing all the

people," Baffert said Friday, the morning after American Pharoah arrived home at

Santa Anita following a flight from Kentucky, a police escort from Ontario

Airport, and a horde of media and fans on hand to welcome him.

"It was nice to see the horse back, but I can tell he was a

little bit tired from being shown so much, so now that he's here, we need to

tighten up the show circuit a little bit. He probably needs a little bit of

freshening, because this wears on him. When he was in Kentucky, they were

bringing him out a lot and showing him to people, sharing him with everybody.