Del Mar to honor American Pharoah

Up until now, Del Mar race fans have had to get up extra early to see the Triple Crown winner train or jog on the race track.

But next Sunday, the day before closing day of the summer meeting, owner Ahmed Zayat, trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza are going to bring American Pharoah out onto the track between races so fans can honor him one more time.

Details are being finalized, but a Del Mar source said American Pharoah, who broke his maiden here in the Del Mar Futurity last September, likely will be brought out of his stall on the backstretch early in the card, likely the third or fourth races, and then paraded for Del Mar fans. American Pharoah finished second in Saturday’s Travers Stakes at Saratoga, losing for the first time since he lost in his debut here last August.

Del Mar will have three stakes races that day – the Yellow Ribbon Stakes, the Del Mar Derby and the C.ER.F. Stakes – along with a concert featuring Weezer after the 10-card program. Racing ends on Monday, Sept. 7, Labor Day.