Triple Crown hero American Pharoah heads back to Santa Anita

Triple Crown champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) departed

Churchill Downs on Thursday morning en route to Hall of Fame trainer Bob

Baffert's barn at Santa Anita.

Based at Santa Anita over the winter, American Pharoah has counted Barn 33,

Stall 28 at Churchill Downs as his home for most of the last 67 days. He

departed the track around 7:20 a.m. (ET) for a short Brook Ledge Horse

Transportation van ride to Louisville International Airport to catch an H.E. "Tex""Sutton

Forwarding Company charter flight. The flight departed at 9:04 a.m. and was due

to arrive at Ontario International Airport in Southern California at 9:40 a.m.

(PT).

"My experience here was great," said assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes, who

oversaw American Pharoah's stay in Kentucky. "It was easy -- everything I

thought it would be. I'm glad that we can come back this way. It's just the way

we like to do it. He looks very good, it's just a matter of wrapping up here,

packing up and getting back to California."