American Pharoah Back in Action in Haskell Invitational

It has been nearly four decades in the making, the first chance for us to watch a Triple Crown winner in action on the racetrack, and American Pharoah figures to put on a show Sunday afternoon on the Jersey Shore. 

The Bob Baffert trainee is one of eight entered in the Grade 1, $1.75 million Haskell Invitational, his first start since winning the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes to become just the 12th Triple Crown winner in history.

The last Triple Crown winner to hit the track was Affirmed, who returned to win the Grade 3 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga in August 1978.  The colt went on to race three more times that year and nine times in 1979.

It will be different for American Pharoah, who will be heading to the breeding shed in 2016, meaning we will only get to enjoy the strapping colt three or four more times. His ultimate goal is the Grade 1, $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on October 31.

The Haskell is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race for the Classic. The winner earns an automatic starting spot in the gate for the Classic along with paid expenses for the trip to Lexington this fall.

NBC will televise the Haskell live during a one-hour program getting underway at 5 p.m. ET.

American Pharoah has thrived since winning the Belmont Stakes, with six published works, three at Santa Anita and three at Del Mar.

More than 5,000 fans showed up Friday morning at Monmouth Park to watch him jog over the racing strip.

"It's amazing for what he's been through," Baffert said, via Jay Privman of the Daily Racing Form. "He's getting stronger, maturing, like most horses as they get older. The horse loves to run, loves to train. I've never had a horse that moves as effortlessly, jumps as far, enjoys it as much."

The colt was installed as the 1-5 morning-line favorite, and it is tough to find anyone who thinks he will lose, but he still has to break from the gate and go 1 ⅛ miles.

Baffert will give his regular rider, Victor Espinoza, a leg up. After losing in his debut with Martin Garcia aboard, the colt has won seven races in a row with Espinoza in the irons, and he has earned triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures in each of those wins.

By comparison, five of the seven foes he faces in the Haskell have never run a Beyer of 100. Two have, and they are accomplished and could give the champion a run for his money.

Upstart faded to finish a well-beaten 18th in the Kentucky Derby but ran well in two prior starts at Gulfstream Park, a runner-up in the Grade 1 Florida Derby and crossing the wire first in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth only to get disqualified for interference in the stretch and placed second.

Competitive Edge won his first four career starts, including an impressive victory in the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs, but misfired in his most recent outing in a sixth-place finish in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park going seven furlongs.

Trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle the colt, and he has won the Haskell three times, most recently with Verrazano in 2013.

Keen Ice faced off against American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby, checking in seventh and beaten by 8 ¾ lengths, and after skipping the Preakness Stakes, he came back with an improved effort in the Belmont Stakes, where he was third, beaten by 7 ½ lengths.

His trainer, Dale Romans, told Privman what most are thinking, stating, "We know that if everybody does their best, no one's going to beat" American Pharoah.

Mark Lennihan/Associated Press

Pletcher has a couple of long shots entered, Lamplighter Stakes winner Nonna's Boy and runner-up Dontbetwithbruno, but could end up scratching one or both to look for an easier spot.

Completing the field are Grade 3 Pegasus victor Mr. Jordan and recent first-level allowance winner Top Clearance.

It would be a major upset if American Pharoah loses, and there is no indication his Triple Crown run took anything out of him. The odds will be short, but it is tough to take a stand against him.

Baffert has won the Haskell a record seven times and has won the race in five of the last six runnings, including last year with Bayern, who went on to win the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The colt could come back in four weeks, and the New York Racing Association is lobbying for the colt to start next in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes on August 29. The NYRA announced Saturday that the Travers purse will be increased to $1.6 million if he runs in the "Mid Summer Derby."

After that, if he stays healthy, he likely would head to either the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park or the Awesome Again at Santa Anita. Then his swan song would come in the Classic.

Morning-line odds via America's Best Racing.

Follow Michael Dempsey on twitter @turfnsport