Triple Crown champion American Pharoah worked a half-mile in :47.60 under rider Martin Garcia Sunday morning at Del Mar with an estimated 800 people looking on from the grandstand.

 

Trainer Bob Baffert and owner Ahmed Zayat and his family also monitored the work from the grandstand and came away pleased.

 

“He went nice; like he always does,” Baffert said. “I think this empty track today (Del Mar closed the track for training between 7:45 and 7:55 to all except Pacific Classic horses and Triple Crown winners) allowed him to relax some. When he’s got horses all around him, he gets keyed up.”

 

American Pharoah came onto the track at approximately 7:45 with Baffert assistant Jim Barnes alongside on his stable pony. They backtracked to the finish line, then jogged to just past the six-furlong pole. American Pharoah galloped up to the half mile marker, then went into work mode, coming down the stretch to applause and cheers from the crowd.

 

Official split times from the clockers were: :12.40, :24.60, :35.80 and :59.80 and 1:13.60 on the gallop out.

 

Head clocker John Malone noted the horse was well within himself for the move.

 

"It went super good,” Garcia said back at the stable area. “Bob just told me to work him like we usually do and make sure we get a little bit out of it. He was just cruising. It’s like he’s still getting better and better. This horse is unbelievable.”