American Pharaoh Gallops; Bayern, Dortmund Work (Video)
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On a warm but picturesque morning at Santa Anita, Triple Crown Champion American Pharoah galloped 1 ¼ miles as trainer Bob Baffert also overlooked serious drills from reigning Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern and this year’s Santa Anita Derby victor, Dortmund.
Zayat Stables’ American Pharoah, idle since running a gallant second in the Grade I Travers Stakes at Saratoga Aug. 29, went to the main track for the third consecutive day as he backtracked with regular exercise rider George Alvarez to the three furlong pole and then engaged in a strong mile and a quarter gallop at 6:40 a.m.
Kaleem Shah’s Dortmund, third in the Kentucky Derby and idle since running fourth in the Preakness May 16, came on the track shortly before 7 a.m. and broke off 2 ½ lengths behind stablemate Holiday Camp at the half mile pole and registered an impressive half mile work in 47 flat under Martin Garcia, according to Baffert. (He was given an official work time of 59.20 for five furlongs). Baffert also had the chestnut colt by Big Brown galloping out five panels in 59.60 and six furlongs in 1:12.60.
Shah’s Bayern, who is pointing for the Grade I Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on Sept. 26, worked immediately following the main track renovation at 6:30, breaking off on his own with Garcia up from the 6 ½ furlong pole and getting six furlongs on Baffert’s watch in 1:11.60. (Bayern was given an official work time of 1:36.80 for one mile). Baffert had had him galloping out seven furlongs in 1:24.20 and one mile in 1:37.20.
Winless in four starts since last year’s gate to wire triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita, Bayern comes off a distant ninth place run behind Beholder in the Grade I Pacific Classic on Aug. 22, but Baffert is encouraged by what he’s seen from him since returning to The Great Race Place earlier in the week.
"He’s enjoying the surface here at Santa Anita,” Baffert told Xpressbet’s Millie Ball.
Spendthrift Farms’ two-time Eclipse Award Champion Beholder walked trainer Richard Mandella’s shedrow for 45 minutes shortly after sunrise. The 5-year-old Henny Hughes mare, who worked an eye-catching half mile yesterday in 49 seconds breezing, with Gary Stevens up, appears to have bounced out of her second post-Pacific Classic drill in good order, as she grazed outdoors for an additional 20 minutes following her scheduled walk under cover. With Santa Anita’s Grade I Zenyatta Stakes on Sept. 26 in her immediate sights, Beholder will likely face American Pharoah and other top males in what shapes up as an epic showdown in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Oct. 31.
Source: Santa Anita Park
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