American Pharoah arrived at Del Mar Race Track on Tuesday to begin training for next month's Haskell Invitational in New Jersey.
The first Triple Crown winner in 37 years even accomplished another rarity on his journey down from Santa Anita — avoiding summer traffic on the Los Angeles-area freeways.
"Well we did leave at 4 a.m.," said Jimmy Barnes, trainer Bob Baffert's chief assistant.
American Pharaoh made the roughly 100-mile journey early in the morning, settled in and then jogged around the track in a morning workout that drew a large media contingent.
The 3-year-old colt isn't expected to race at Del Mar, with its summer season starting on Thursday. Instead, American Pharaoh will train at the seaside oval in preparation for the Haskell on Aug. 2 at Monmouth Park. He'll return to Del Mar after the Haskell.
Last year, American Pharoah made his track debut at Del Mar Racetrack, but came in fifth place. He then won the Del Mar Futurity a month later.
"He won by daylight and he has gone on since then to win six consecutive races since that race," said Mac McBride, a spokesman for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. "Three of those races were the American Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes. He's a hero."
McBride said while American Pharoah won't race at Del Mar, "we think there's a chance his owner, his trainer might consider coming back here at Del Mar three weeks later in our $1 million Pacific Classic and taking on older horses."
At the end of this year, American Pharoah will retire from horse racing and become a breeding stud.
