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American Pharoah skims over Churchill slop; Baffert to fly in Monday night

American Pharoah flaunted his typically smooth action on Memorial Day (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography) Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness (G1) winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) continued his training for the June 6 Belmont S. (G1) by galloping 1 1/4 miles over a sloppy Churchill Downs main track on Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. (EDT) with Jorge Alvarez up. Video is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FktMyy55BmQ. "He went great," Alvarez said. "He loves the slop." Jimmy Barnes, chief assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, also was pleased with how the Zayat Stables homebred galloped over the sloppy going. "He went very nice and looked good," Barnes said. "He likes an off track. Everything seems fine." American Pharoah is two-for-two on an off track. His two wins in the slop came in the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park and the May 16 Preakness. Baffert is scheduled to fly into Louisville, Kentucky, from California on Monday night to oversee his string of 12 horses that are stabled at Churchill Downs. Aside from American Pharoah, he has last year's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Bayern (Offlee Wild) and 2014 Clark H. (G1) winner Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) in training at Churchill Downs. Barnes said that Baffert would determine Tuesday morning when American Pharoah would resume breezing.

Baffert is expected to be at Barn 33 Tuesday morning and will return to California later that day.

Three other Belmont S. contenders are currently stabled at Churchill: Conquest Curlinate (Curlin), Barn 36; Keen Ice (Curlin), Barn 4; and War Story (Northern Afleet), Barn 29.

In other Belmont news from Churchill:

Churchill Downs' special 8:30-8:45 a.m. training period for the Belmont S.-bound horses continues through Tuesday, June 2.

Additionally, area horse racing fans are invited to watch those colts train from the first floor of the facility, including the new Courtyard area, free of charge.

Churchill will open its Gate 17 entrance between 8-9 a.m. each morning through June 2 so the public can watch. Churchill concessionaire Levy Restaurants will have coffee, juice, soda, water and doughnuts available for purchase near the Aristides Garden. Also, video of the exercises will be shown on the Big Board and infield video screens.

Those unable to attend can watch an online live stream of the daily exercises at http://www.kentuckyderby.com/workouts/live, and clips of the activity will be uploaded on the Kentucky Derby YouTube channel. A graphic with each horse's name will appear on the screen with the corresponding horse, although a majority of the focus will be on American Pharaoh.

Despite rainfall and short notice, more than 100 fans attended Monday's debut of the special training session.

Churchill Downs has a special box seat package for the Belmont S. simulcast. For $24, fans can get an undercover box seat, official program, a domestic beer or souvenir soda and a custom, limited-edition Kentucky Derby 141 T-Shirt that features a victorious American Pharaoh. Fans can purchase the package by visiting the online box office at www.ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets.

Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com

More Triple Crown News & Notes:

American Pharaoh back at Churchill, to parade Stephen Foster night

Zayat, Baffert hail Triple Crown champion American Pharoah

Espinoza's schedule remains packed; McAnally reminisces on past TC winners

Baffert: American Pharoah is 'my best hope for the Triple Crown'

Pletcher reminisces on past Belmont victories

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