HASKELL INVITATIONAL

(GRADE 1)

IN his first race back since making history at Belmont Park in June, Triple Crown winner American Pharoah looked every stride the champion last Sunday at Monmouth Park.

Winning the $1.75 million Grade 1 William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes, he came home under a hand ride by regular jockey Victor Espinoza for trainer Bob Baffert and owner Zayat Stables.

In the one mile and one furlong Haskell, now the richest race contested at Monmouth Park since the 2007 Breeders’ Cup World Championships, American Pharoah tracked early leader Competitive Edge, before moving effortlessly outside the leader on the final turn.

Surging to a five-length lead in the stretch, American Pharoah cruised to the finish line. Keen Ice had no answer, finishing two and a quarter lengths behind a eased down winner, rewarding the track record crowd of 60,983. Grade 2 winner Upstart was three lengths behind the runner-up, while Competitive Edge faded to fourth.

Baffert, picked up his eighth Haskell victory and fifth in six years, “The crowd was insane,” commented the trainer. “They were so loud. They were as loud as the Belmont.”

“That other horse (Competitive Edge), he wanted the lead so I sat a little back. I didn’t want to go head to head,” said Espinoza, “I never like to go head to head with a horse so I sit back a half-length, length behind. He did everything on his own.”

“He’s always been a champion, that’s why he won the Triple Crown,” Espinoza said. “And today, he showed it again; very easy, very impressive.”

Making his first start in 57 days, both Baffert and owner Ahmed Zayat confessed being nervous before the race, saying they didn’t want to let the fans downs. At odds of 1/10, American Pharoah became the eighth Triple Crown winner to win their first start back after the classics.

“This time it was all about the fans and I did not want to disappoint,” Zayat said. “My first feeling is I was extremely nervous because I wanted everybody to be proud and to see a true star continue to thrive.”

The victory gives American Pharoah five straight Grade 1 victories and eight straight graded stakes wins - seven of which are Grade 1 scores. He won two Grade 1 races last year to secure champion two-year-old male honours.

However, connections will have the option of one more start before they take on the Breeders Cup at Keeneland. Zayat indicated it may be the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga Racecourse on August 29th. Baffert and the Zayats said they’ll return to Southern California and make their decision.