American Pharoah will race again, Zayat says

Saying "the champ deserves another chance," American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat on Thursday morning announced American Pharoah will remain in training and race again.

The comment came after Zayat said his "gut feeling" was to retire the Triple Crown winner off his defeat to Keen Ice in last weekend's Travers Stakes. But after reflecting, and following a four-hour meeting with trainer Bob Baffert on Tuesday, Zayat has decided to continue pointing American Pharoah to the Oct. 31 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland.

"He won the Triple Crown earlier this year, and he deserves the chance to be in the sport's premier year-end event," Zayat said in an interview with ESPN.

A number of other top horses – older ones, too – are already pointing toward the Classic as well. The list includes Keen Ice, Met Mile winner Honor Code, 2014 Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist, Stephen Foster Handicap winner Noble Bird and then two that really intrigue. European shipper Gleneagles,a top 3-year-old overseas on turf, was recently announced as a contender. Mare Beholder, a dominant winner of the Pacific Classic, also has "Win and You're In" qualification to the $5 million race.

American Pharoah will become the first Triple Crown winner to run in the Breeders' Cup should he start. Then it's off to Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky to start a new career.

"I am very confident in my decision," Zayat said in an interview with ESPN. "Not a moment has gone by since the race on Saturday when I have not thought about this decision. My initial concern right after the race was about American Pharoah's condition, because he did not run his 'A' race. He has come out of the race in great shape. And after examining all the evidence and talking it over with our team – Bob Baffert, my son Justin (racing manager for Zayat Stables), (assistant trainer) Jimmy Barnes, and (jockey) Victor Espinoza – I believe there were a combination of factors that prevented American Pharoah from running his absolute best on Saturday.

"I have every confidence that he can run to his best again, and he deserves the chance to do so."

Breeders' Cup President and CEO Craig Fravel added that, “While it is not our practice to comment on individual horses contemplating the Breeders’ Cup as a year-end target, we want to acknowledge the Zayat family on their decision to keep American Pharoah in training and look forward to his continued engagement with the fans who have so genuinely connected with the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. When John Gaines conceived of the Breeders’ Cup, he intended that it be an attraction to and showcase for great champions that might otherwise retire from the spotlight. The 2015 Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland is shaping up in many ways to be a historic and watershed event, and we want to make clear our deep appreciation for all of the horses and their connections who plan to join us for a celebration of racing’s champions from around the world.”

Plans are in the works for Baffert to send the Triple Crown winner back to Louisville for training. It's at Barn 33 on the Churchill backside that American Pharoah stabled before the Kentucky Derby and then again between successful stops on the Triple Crown trail.

"We look forward to seeing him," track spokesman Darren Rogers said Thursday, after Ahmed Zayat announced his colt will race again rather than immediately head to stud.

While at Churchill earlier this year, American Pharoah often enjoyed an exclusive training window on track and took to the surface well. His won't be the only circus in town this October, though. It's expected that a number of others targeting the championship series at Keeneland will train here as well.

Track officials also offered to gear a race toward the Triple Crown winner. Churchill Downs' Lukas Classic, a 1 ⅛-mile listed stakes set for Sept. 26, would receive a significant bump in purse from the current $175,000 should connections run American Pharoah.

Stories published Thursday by ESPN and the Daily Racing Form quoted Zayat as saying he's unsure whether American Pharaoh will prep for the Breeders' Cup.

For now, the champion is stabled at Del Mar but will head to Santa Anita next week when that track's race meeting begins.