American Pharoah continues to look sharp in Haskell preparations

Exactly one week after returning to the worktab with a three-furlong move in :36 2/5, Triple Crown champion American Pharoah stepped it up to a half-mile at Santa Anita on Monday and drilled in a sharp :47 3/5.

The Bob Baffert pupil is scheduled to make his next start in the August 2 Haskell Invitational (G1) at Monmouth. Judging by his two works since his historic Belmont (G1) victory on June 6, the Pharoah should extend his, and Baffert's, sovereignty over the Jersey Shore. The Hall of Fame trainer has had a stranglehold on the race with a record seven Haskell winners so far.

Monday's work was again labeled "handily," although the Zayat Stables homebred did it all on his own, with the lovely, fluent action that we've come to expect -- and appreciate. To this unofficial observer (on video), he continued to show good energy on the gallop-out.

That impression was confirmed by a tweet from Justin Zayat, revealing that Pharoah galloped out five furlongs in :59:

Here's the video of the work, courtesy of Camilla Yakteen (Millie Ball) on YouTube:

 

Photo of Ahmed Zayat leading American Pharoah in after the Belmont courtesy of NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography.