Churchill offers special training period for American Pharoah, Belmont hopefuls

Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof

the Nile) galloped 1 3/16 miles on

the fast Churchill Downs main track at approximately 8:30 a.m. (EDT) Sunday morning under

partly cloudy skies with regular exercise rider Jorge Alvarez in the irons.

Jimmy Barnes, chief assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, said that the

Zayat Stables' homebred continues to train well and he's happy with

the way the horse looks going into the $1.5 million Belmont S. (G1) on June 6.

Also on target for the Belmont is Peter Pan S. (G2) second Conquest Curlinate

(Curlin), who jogged and galloped one mile under exercise rider Marco Cano for

trainer Mark Casse. Multiple Grade 2-placed War Story (Northern Afleet) jogged a mile and galloped 1

1/2 miles with exercise rider Marvin Orantes up for trainer

Tom Amoss.

Fellow multiple Grade 2-placed Keen Ice (Curlin) galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Faustno Agular for trainer Dale Romans.

American Pharoah (Barn 33), Conquest Curlinate (Barn 36), Keen Ice (Barn

4) and War Story (Barn 29) are the locally-based Belmont Stakes contenders

stabled at Churchill Downs.

With that group stabled on the grounds, Churchill will

offer a special 8:30-8:45 a.m. training period for those horses starting on

Monday. 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 Tuesday, June 2, so the public can watch American Pharoah

and his rivals prepare for the 1 1/2-mile third jewel of the Triple

Crown.

"Our switchboard has received a number of calls from avid fans looking to

get a glimpse of American Pharoah and this is a great way to showcase the stars

of our sport to an audience yearning for more," said Kevin Flanery, president of

Churchill Downs Racetrack. "It's always exciting to have a Kentucky Derby winner

back in training at Churchill Downs, but it's extra special to have American

Pharaoh here preparing for a possible sweep of the elusive Triple Crown.

"A big 'Thank You' goes out to our local horsemen and staff for accommodating

our request to host this special training period for the horses and fans."

As a result, training hours at Churchill Downs will be 5:45-10 a.m. daily

through Tuesday, June 2, the date many of the Belmont Stakes contenders will

ship to New York. The special training period over a freshly-harrowed and

congestion-free track will follow the traditional 8-8:30 a.m. renovation break.

Churchill Downs has a

special box seat package for the Belmont 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.