American Pharoah’s next destination finally has been determined.
The first Triple Crown winner in 37 years will make his next appearance at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., for the Haskell Invitational on Aug. 2.
The decision comes after weeks of back-and-forth between American Pharoah’s connections and racetracks around the country. The plan is for American Pharoah to run twice before he likely ends his career with the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keenland in Lexington, Ky., on Oct. 31.
Owner Ahmed Zayat, who won the 2012 Haskell with Paynter, stated last week he wanted to see a “festival” when Pharoah returns to the races, and according to Monmouth Park president Bob Kulina, the track along the Jersey Shore will provide that with a three-day “Pharoah Phan Phest.”
“I told the tracks [that were competing], forget about the money, this is about the horse and the fans.” Zayat said. “We wanted to know how we could get a special day at the track.”
Pharoah’s trainer, Bob Baffert, has won the 1 ¹/₈-mile Haskell a record seven times — including last year with Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern. Baffert said all along he was waiting to see how American Pharoah breezed before making the decision on the Triple Crown winner’s next race.
Pharoah had his first drill since the Belmont Stakes on Monday when he worked three furlongs in 36.4 seconds at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
“This was the target race all along,” Baffert said. “[Ahmed and I] talked yesterday and we knew he was doing good and training well.”
Zayat said despite the decision to run at Monmouth, a trip to Saratoga for the Travers on Aug. 29 is not out of the question.
“We’d love to go to Saratoga,” Zayat said. “It’s a prestigious track, one of the oldest in the country. Bob would love to go as well.”
But for now, the focus of the horse-racing world will center on the Jersey Shore. Zayat and Monmouth Park are trying to draw more stars to add to the race-day experience. Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and Kobe Bryant were among the names mentioned by Zayat to make appearances at Monmouth Park.
The event also will have Baffert, who did not make the cross-country trip from his home in California for last year’s Haskell, but will make a special trip for his special horse. He’ll even have time for his traditional pre-Haskell lucky hot dog from Max’s in Long Branch.
“I’ll definitely make this trip,” Baffert said. “I’ll stop by Max’s around 1, then head over to the track.”