Triple Crown winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) continued preparations for the Oct. 31 GI Breeders' Cup Classic with a five-furlong work at Santa Anita Saturday in :59.80 (video).
“He went nice,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “He went around there like he always does, just cruising. I got him in :59 and two and let him do a little more today. He galloped out a strong seventh-eighths. I got him in 1:12 2/5 [for six furlongs] and 1:25 4/5 [for seven furlongs]. He did it the right way. He did it without any effort. He's right on schedule.”
American Pharoah had been expected to work Sunday, but Baffert called an audible after looking at the weather forecast.
“I was going to work him tomorrow, but we just moved it up a day because of the weather,” Baffert explained. “I don't have a ship date right now. I was going to maybe ship him Monday, but we postponed that. We're going to wait.”
Asked if he would ship to Keeneland or Churchill Downs, Baffert said, “We don't know yet.”
Also pointing for championship weekend, GI Breeders' Cup Distaff contender Stellar Wind (Curlin) worked five furlongs at Santa Anita Saturday in 1:00.60 for trainer John Sadler.
Trainer Richard Mandella reported two-time Eclipse champion Beholder (Henny Hughes) would ship to Kentucky Oct. 19. The GI Pacific Classic winner returned to the main track for the first time since her win in the Sept. 26 GI Zenyatta S. Saturday, jogging a mile at Santa Anita (video).
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