American Pharoah Update

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TJ
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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby TJ » Sun Jun 28, 2015 9:50 am

TJ wrote:The Champ will parade around SA between the 7th and 8th races tomorrow, Saturday 6/27. He did gallop today and will most likely gallop tomorrow as well, before getting all pumped up walking to the paddock, expecting to race tomorrow. TJ

I thought this statement goes hand in hand with this article. As Pharoah did get pumped up in the paddock during Saturday's exhibition. Never a good thing for a horse of his caliber to get worked up, then put in his stall without letting his energy level down as happens naturally after running a race. In any case the good news is, Baffert came to his senses and will back off the public appearances and train him like a racehorse. Most likely getting his first breeze when they get to Del Mar in a week or two. Here's the article. TJ
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... anta-anita

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby TJ » Mon Jun 29, 2015 1:30 pm

They wasted no time, after he got a bit worked up in the paddock on Saturday evening, they took him down a notch with his first 3/8ths breeze since he won the Triple Crown. American Pharoah went 3/8ths in 36.40 at SA. TJ

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby TJ » Thu Jul 02, 2015 4:58 pm

I's official, American Pharoah will run in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park August 2nd. The Travers at Saratoga on August 29th, could still be on the agenda for Pharoah if he takes the Haskell easily. TJ
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... in-haskell

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby TJ » Mon Jul 06, 2015 2:34 pm

American Pharoah has got to be one of the most amazing horses to come down the pike in a long time. He's does everything so easily and came out of the TC like breaking sticks. He worked a 1/2 at Santa Anita today in 47.60 and galloped out 5/8th in 59.80. He looks like he's ready to run tomorrow and he still has 27 days left till his next start, Sunday August 3rd in the Haskell Invitational, a race Baffert has won 7 times. Pharoah's some kinda racehorse....watch his workout, he's just having a ball out there! TJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kcFpT6HC5Y

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby TJ » Sun Jul 12, 2015 3:56 pm

American Pharoah had his final breeze at Santa Anita today (Sunday 7/12) and will head to Baffert's summertime stabling headquarters at Del Mar Tuesday 7/14. Del Mar recently switched over to dirt, so it will probably be a pretty fast strip.
Back to American Pharoah, he worked 5/8ths in 59.1 and galloped out 3/4's in 1:12.2. Another excellent work for the Champ with Martin Garcia in the irons. It got pretty interesting when a couple other horses broke off in front of him, working a shorter distance. Watch the work below. TJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHwXXrgh1iE

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby TJ » Sat Jul 18, 2015 3:38 pm

American Pharoah continues to impress. He worked 3/4's today (7/18) at Del Mar over the new dirt course with Martin Garcia in the irons. He went along in fractions of 35 3/5, 47 1/5, 59 3/5, 1:11 2/5, then galloped out a mile in 1:38 1/5. Watch his workout below. TJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azcEthQ7gBE

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby TJ » Thu Jul 23, 2015 4:55 pm

Today, Thursday 7/23 American Pharoah worked another 3/4's of a mile just 5 days after his last 3/4 breeze. He worked a bit faster than last time going 3/4's in 1:11 flat while galloping out 7/8ths in 1:24 and pulled up the mile in 1:38.40. He will breeze another 1/2 mile before shipping to Monmouth on Wednesday July 29th. Watch the breeze below, furnished by TVG, they also critique the move.....but Ray Charles could see it was unreal:>) TJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nvBNG0TsYI

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby TJ » Tue Jul 28, 2015 3:30 pm

Today, Tuesday July 28th American Pharoah turned in his final work for the Haskell Invitational this Sunday August 2nd. Going a 1/2 mile he took off rather easily getting the first 3/8ths in 37 seconds. He finished strongly thereafter, getting the half in 48 4/5, he galloped out 5/8ths in 1:01 flat and pulling up 3/4's in 1:14 2/5 under Martin Garcia. He will fly to NJ tomorrow and is expected to land at 2PM eastern. TJ

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby TJ » Tue Aug 04, 2015 10:55 am

American Pharoah came out of the Haskell in great shape and returned home to his Del Mar barn yesterday. Baffert wants to keep him running against 3YO's and implied that California will entice him to stay there for his next start. Though the only possible race for him would be the Pacific Classic against older, so that makes no sense? If Baffert takes the high road and comes to Saratoga for the Travers, the New York Racing Association will offer an additional $600,000 to the all ready million dollar purse. The Travers is going to be one of the best races of the season....they don't call it the Mid-Summer Derby for nothing. With Frosted, Texas Red and a much fitter Upstart all confirmed to run....it could be American Pharoah's opportunity to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, he is the best 3YO in the country. Let's face it, that group he was in against in the Haskell was pretty bad.....most of them needed a van to go a mile and an eight and the one that could go the distance (Upstart) wasn't tight enough off the layoff. If Baffert and Zayat decide to go elsewhere, it would look like they're ducking the only 3YO's who have any chance of beating him. I don't think Baffert would duck them, especially since his record in the Travers could use the bump. Bottom line, if Baffert accepts the challenge and enters the Travers field, it will be no slam dunk like the Haskell was. At the mile and a quarter distance, the only time American Pharoah tried it in the Derby, he was under pressure to hold sway. It is a race that puts American Pharoah's win streak on the line because of the distance and the tough competition, but it is a challenge Baffert should accept. TJ

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby TJ » Wed Aug 05, 2015 8:53 am

How about this...Zayat must be reading the thread :-) TJ
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... in-travers

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby geowarrior » Wed Aug 05, 2015 10:33 am

Always listen to TJ, that's what I say...

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby TJ » Wed Aug 05, 2015 5:19 pm

geowarrior wrote:Always listen to TJ, that's what I say...

LOL........But I do hope he runs in the Travers. TJ

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby TJ » Mon Aug 10, 2015 2:52 pm

Looks like AP will run in the Travers August 29th, if he works well this Sunday at Del Mar. Along with this news, Ricky Violette, trainer of Upstart, said if AP runs in the Travers, he won't.....said he's had enough of American Pharoah:>) TJ
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... or-pharoah

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby DDT » Tue Aug 11, 2015 7:31 am

TJ

I agree with you that the Travers would not be a walk in the park for Pharoah but using his Derby run as an example of working for a win we must keep in mind that the Churchill strip was far from normal on Derby day, and all one has to do is look at how difficult it has been for the also rans to regroup and rebound from that experience. The Belmont and the Haskell were the only two runs for him over a fast track in most of his starts and the first six furlongs in the Haskell was 1:09 and change. Pharoah appears to be getting better instead of regressing from his efforts. If Victor lets him run them off their collective feet he will be very hard to catch, even at the graveyard of Champions.

DDT

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Re: American Pharoah Update

Postby TJ » Tue Aug 11, 2015 8:44 am

DDT wrote:TJ

I agree with you that the Travers would not be a walk in the park for Pharoah but using his Derby run as an example of working for a win we must keep in mind that the Churchill strip was far from normal on Derby day, and all one has to do is look at how difficult it has been for the also rans to regroup and rebound from that experience. The Belmont and the Haskell were the only two runs for him over a fast track in most of his starts and the first six furlongs in the Haskell was 1:09 and change. Pharoah appears to be getting better instead of regressing from his efforts. If Victor lets him run them off their collective feet he will be very hard to catch, even at the graveyard of Champions.

DDT

Hi DDT,
Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting him to get beat (he still has the numbers against the 3YO's)....but there is a question mark, at least in my mind, concerning AP going the 1 1/4 mile distance? I would like to see him answer that question with authority in the Travers. There's no doubt the Travers will be his toughest race to date. The only time he raced at the 1 1/4 mile distance he won by a driving length. He now faces two horses (Upstart is out if AP runs) that are also improving in Frosted and Texas Red. These two are coming into the race on the upswing and will love the distance. No doubt in my mind American Pharoah is better now then he ever was and though he has beaten both of these contenders before, there's no way of knowing how far forward any or all of these can move up in the Travers. It will be an interesting race and one that will be AP's crowning moment if he proves he can win at the mile and a quarter, as easily as he has in the rest of his races. He will need a strong winning prep at the 1 1/4 distance to be ready for the BC Classic and will most likely need another race before the Classic, since 2 months off going into the BC Classic would be a tough assignment. Most recent beyers for the BC Classic contenders....Honor Code 113 (Whitney), AP 109 (Haskell), Texas Red 105 (Jim Dandy), Frosted 104 (2nd in Jim Dandy). Interesting to note, all 4 of these contenders reached their best beyer in their last start....which way will they go from here? TJ