American Pharoah Drills Haskell Bullet at Del Mar

Triple Crown champion American Pharoah worked six furlongs in 1:11.40 under Martin Garcia here Saturday morning, about 90 minutes after a thunder-and-lightning storm – unusual for Del Mar – passed through the area.

 

The track’s official clockers had American Pharoah in splits of  :24.0, :36.20, :59.20 en route to the six-furlong time which was the fastest of 12 at the distance of the morning. The gallop out times were 1:24.40 and 1:38.40.

 

“I think the bit of rain we got this morning might have been good for the track. Tightened it up a bit,” said trainer Bob Baffert. “He went good. It was a good work for him. He needed it.”

 

American Pharoah left the stable area at 7:45 am. All eyes -- from the  early-morning arrivals for the track’s breakfast place in the grandstand to a jam-packed elevated viewing stand along the backstretch -- were on the first Triple Crown series winner in 37 years  as he stepped onto the track.

 

Garcia, outfitted with a GoPro camera attached to a short post on the top of his helmet, guided the bay son of Pioneerof The Nile to the five-eighths pole where they broke away from the crowd of other horses exercising and set off on the solo work.

 

They settled in about two paths off the rail. Garcia kept a firm grip on the reins and didn’t urge his mount in any way.

 

“He felt really good, he’s ready,” Garcia said back at the Baffert barn.

 

The lightning and thunderstorm came through at 6:30 a.m. One strike set a palm tree on fire beyond the track property but smoke and flames were visible from the grandstand. Meanwhile, several horses continued maintrack workouts, appearing unfazed. Baffert did due diligence regarding the track condition and decided to go on with the work.

 

As for the apparatus atop the helmet: “It’s just a camera,” Garcia said.

 

Baffert said the GoPro company is working on a new type of camera and the stable agreed to be part of the project.

 

American Pharoah is working toward a projected next race in the $1 million Haskell Invitational on August 2 at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. Baffert said there are no plans regarding when the horse will work next.