Triple Crown winner American Pharoah has galloped in front of an enthusiastic cheer squad ahead of the Haskell Invitational.
Around 5000 fans came to the track on Friday (Saturday AEST) to watch the colt in his work-out before Sunday’s $US1.75 million ($A2.40 million) race.
The Haskell will be American Pharoah’s first start since the Belmont Stakes in early June.
He won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont to become the 12th Triple Crown winner, and the first in 37 years.
Packed three and four deep along the rail, the crowd let out an appreciative roar as the champion galloped past the grandstand.
“It just shows how big this event is going to be,” track president Bob Kulina said.
Monmouth is bracing for a record crowd in excess of 60,000 on Sunday.
Justin Zayat, racing manager for owner Zayat Stables, is eager to see American Pharoah appear at his home-state track.
“It’s a special race for us – born and raised in New Jersey over here – the Zayat family is from New Jersey, so how could you not support your home state. They’ve done a superb job of welcoming us,” Justine Zayat, racing manager for owner Zayat stables, told bloodhorse.com.
“This was in the back of our mind the entire time before the whole Triple Crown trail.”
To celebrate American Pharoah’s appearance at Monmouth, the track management have billed their three-day meeting as the Pharoah Phan Phestival, culminating in Sunday’s race.
