From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (June 24, 2015)–American Pharoah, who became America’s first Triple Crown Champion in 37 years by winning the Belmont Stakes on June 6, will make a public appearance on Saturday at Santa Anita as he will be paraded between the seventh and eighth races as part of a blockbuster day that will also include the Grade I, $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita and three other graded stakes.
Owned and bred by Ahmed Zayat and trained by Bob Baffert, the Kentucky-bred colt by Pioneerof the Nile will enter the track’s Paddock Gardens area at approximately 4:30 p.m. PDT, following a gate to wire screening of his unforgettable Belmont Stakes triumph.
He will then proceed to the track’s Seabiscuit Walking Ring, where he will take a pair of laps that will be accompanied by handlers from Baffert’s stable. American Pharoah will then be led under the Grandstand and onto Santa Anita’s main track, where he won the final race of his 2-year-old campaign, the Grade I, $300,000 FrontRunner Stakes on Sept. 27.
Once on the main track, he will be led toward Santa Anita’s Club House turn. After posing for pictures, American Pharoah will turn around and head to the Winner’s Circle, where he will be met by Baffert, regular rider Victor Espinoza and an expected throng of media.
Following an interview with Baffert that will be conducted by Santa Anita’s Michelle Yu, the Triple Crown Champ will walk the length of the stretch back to Baffert’s shed row.
The entire ceremony will also be shown live on Santa Anita’s simulcast network. First post time for a 10-race program Saturday is at 1 p.m. Fans are encouraged to come early, as all Santa Anita Thoroughbreds Club members will receive a beautiful, officially licensed American Pharoah T-Shirt, free with paid admission, while supplies last.