American Pharoah's "dominating victory" yesterday in the William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes drew an announced attendance of 60,983 to Monmouth Park, the "biggest crowd" in the facility's history, according to Frank Angst of BLOODHORSE. The Triple Crown-winner's presence also "produced record pari-mutuel handle for the race and for Haskell day." A total of $6,544,247 was bet on just the Haskell, "shattering the mark" of $4,463,736 set in '10. The day's total handle of $20,024,509 was "up 13.49% from the previous mark" of $17,642,955 set in '08 (BLOODHORSE.com, 8/2). In a special to USA TODAY, Jennie Rees notes the previous attendance record was 53,638, when fellow Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide "ran in the 2003 Haskell." New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was "roundly booed when introduced," and former Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora were among the celebrities in the crowd (USA TODAY, 8/3). ESPN.com's Dana O'Neil wrote the event was a "party," as airplanes were "pulling banners overhead, just like they do down the road at the Jersey Shore." When American Pharoah "turned the corner for the homestretch, it was just the same as at Belmont" when he clinched the Triple Crown: the "roar of the crowd growing more deafening with each stride, somehow gaining strength rather than dying out after the win was secure" (ESPN.com, 8/2). In N.Y., Joe Drape notes fans "roared" when American Pharoah first "stepped onto the track to the full-throated strains" of Bruce Springsteen's "Born To Run." The crowd "watched an ethereal creature float around the racetrack as if he were conjured from the heavens." The goal of Owner Ahmed Zayat and trainer Bob Baffert is for the horse to "have his final race before retiring to the breeding shed in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/3).
WHAT'S NEXT? In Albany, Robin Cooper noted there is a thought that American Pharoah "could run in the Travers next," the "premier stakes race" at Saratoga Race Course. Both Baffert and Justin Zayat, Amhed's son, have indicated that the horse could run in the race. NYRA has agreed to "increase the total purse at the Travers" from $1.25M to $1.6M if American Pharoah enters (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/2). Meanwhile, Baffert said, "I know when I get home, Del Mar, they're going to be putting a lot of pressure on me (because) they're in my back yard. One thing about it, Mr. Zayat told me, 'You don't run him unless he is 100 percent. You do right by the horse.' So that's something that we have to get him home and see how he bounces out of this" (NJ.com, 8/2).
