The New York Racing Association will raise the purse for the GI Travers S. to $1.6 million should Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) go postward in the Aug. 29 Midsummer Derby. Should American Pharoah start in the Travers, the guaranteed winner's award will rise to $850,000 from the current guarantee of $675,000. The sliding scale of awards also will rise for the second- through eighth-place finishers, with $270,000 awarded to second place, $150,000 to third place, $100,000 to fourth place, $75,000 to fifth place, $60,000 to sixth place, $50,000 to seventh place and $45,000 to eighth place.
“New York loves a champion, and there is no more fitting place for American Pharoah to continue his march into sporting immortality than competing before the greatest, most knowledgeable and most passionate racing fans anywhere in the world–right here at historic Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, August 29,” said NYRA Chief Executive Officer and President Christopher Kay. “Vice Chairman Del Giudice and I want to both thank NYTHA President Violette for his collaboration and support throughout this process.”
American Pharoah makes his first start since sweeping the Triple Crown in the June 6 GI Belmont S. in Sunday's GI William Hill Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.
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