Newly crowned Pharoah to race again

American Pharoah's scintillating Triple Crown triumph at the Belmont Stakes won't be his last race, the colt's owner declared on Sunday.

The bay colt became just the 12th horse -- and the first in 37 years -- to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont, providing an energizing jolt to a sport long struggling to stay relevant in the United States.

Even before he won the Belmont, passing the 1 1/2-mile "Test of the Champion" with flying colors, American Pharoah's breeding rights were sold by owner Ahmed Zayat to Ireland's Coolmore Stud in a deal thought to be worth more than $20 million.

But before he takes up life as a breeding stallion at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky, Zayat said he wanted the horse to spread a little more magic among US racing fans, who had seen 13 horses fail to make good on Triple Crown chances since Affirmed completed the hat-trick in 1978.

"We owe it to the sport to do the right thing," Zayat said Sunday, as American Pharoah was feted by admirers before heading back to Kentucky.

"Money plays an important factor in this game. I've already sold the breeding rights, but it is my genuine desire, as a fan, as someone who loves horses, to race him as long as I possibly can."

He said trainer Bob Baffert would map out the plan for the remainder of American Pharoah's 2015 campaign.

Baffert said his key goal was to have the three-year-old ready to win in his next start.

"I've seen Triple Crown horses come back and get beat," Baffert said. 'I don't want that to happen."

American Pharoah has now won seven straight of his eight races since a fifth-place finish in his debut last year.

The 62-year-old trainer said he thought American Pharoah might be ready to race in as little as two weeks, and three more races this year was a reasonable goal.

That raises the prospect of a mouth-watering start in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic, which will be run this year at Keeneland in Lexington, Kentucky, on October 31.

"A sport without any stars is not a sport," Zayat said before the Belmont. "We'll race him as long as he remains happy, healthy and we can do it."
Source: AFP