OCEANPORT, N.J. — American Pharoah flashed his speed in the stretch and easily won the $1.75 million Haskell Invitational on Sunday in his first race since sweeping the Triple Crown.
With a record crowd of 60,983 cheering him on at Monmouth Park, American Pharoah came out of the final turn with a clear lead and cruised to a 2 1/4-length victory without any urging from jockey Victor Espinoza.
American Pharoah won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes to become the 12th Triple Crown winner, and first in 37 years. Following a 57-day break after the Belmont, the 3-year-old colt looked better than ever in winning his eighth consecutive race.
Sent off at odds of 1-10, American Pharoah is the shortest price winner in Haskell history, returning $2.20 for a $2 win bet. He paid $2.10 to place and $2.10 to show.
Keen Ice rallied for second at 18-1 odds, followed by Upstart, Competitive Edge, Top Clearance, Dontbetwithbruno and Mr. Jordan. The winning time for the 1 1/8-mile race was 1:47.95 — 95th hundreds of a second off the Haskell record.
American Pharoah’s next start is now the biggest question in racing. There’s no answer yet, but options include the Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 29, the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 19, and the Awesome Again at Santa Anita on Sept. 26.
“No clue,” American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat said when asked about his colt’s next race. “We’re going to enjoy this moment.”
If all goes according to plan, American Pharoah will run his final race in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky on Oct. 31. And then, he’s headed down the road to the breeding shed at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud.
A few minutes after rocker Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” blared as the horses walked onto the track, American Pharoah broke well from post No. 4. But it was Competitive Edge who took the early lead. Espinoza kept his horse in second until midway on the far turn. And then, with one overpowering surge he seized control and was alone in the stretch as the crowd roared.
“He ran like a champ,” Espinoza said.
The final margin was deceptive since Espinoza never asked American Pharoah to run any harder than necessary.
“That was nerve-racking,” Bob Baffert said after his eighth win in the Haskell, five more than any other trainer. “I was getting pretty nervous. This horse, he just keeps bringing it. He’s just a great horse.
Of the 12 Crown winners, eight have now won in their first race after the Belmont. One, Count Fleet, was retired after the 1943 Belmont with an injury.
American Pharoah opened his career with a loss, but has won eight in a row since — seven of them Grade 1 races. With the $1.1 million payday in the Haskell, the son of Pioneerof the Nile’s career earnings soared to $5.6 million.
As he was led back to the winner’s circle, the cheers continued.
“I couldn’t believe the crowd, how loud it was,” an emotional Baffert said, his voice breaking. “It was a great crowd. I love bringing my horses here. Thank you for being behind Pharoah the whole way.”
The long day at Monmouth Park began with gates opening at 9 a.m., and fans strolled into the Jersey Shore track after waiting in line, some since 5 a.m. But it wasn’t until late afternoon before the place looked packed. When American Pharoah was led into the paddock, the crowds stood 15 deep around the railing, straining to get a cellphone photo of American Pharoah.
And the horse came through with a truly remarkable performance.
“It’s very rare that I’m speechless, but I am extremely proud,” Zayat said. And the fans loved it, except for a moment when New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie appeared in the winner’s circle and was loudly booed. “I couldn’t be happier that this is happening in the great state of New Jersey. This is a superstar. He has touched everybody’s heart.”
The Haskell win gave American Pharoah an expense-paid berth in the BC Classic.
The previous Haskell record crowd was 53,368 in 2003, when Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide finished third behind Peace Rules.
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