American Pharoah heading back to Santa Anita

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah will return to his Santa Anita home on Thursday from Churchill Downs.

Owned and bred by Ahmed Zayat and trained by Bob Baffert, American Pharoah is due to arrive from Louisville by airplane at Ontario International Airport at approximately 1 p.m. ET then vanned with a six-unit law enforcement escort to Santa Anita, arriving approximately at 2:30 p.m.

"Along with the rest of the country, we were in awe of American Pharoah's performance in the Belmont (Stakes) ... and we're honored to be able to welcome him back home here to Santa Anita," said Keith Brackpool, Santa Anita Chairman. "We'd like to congratulate Mr. Zayat, Bob Baffert and (jockey) Victor Espinoza on winning America's first Triple Crown in 37 years and we want to thank them for sharing this magnificent horse with all of us."

American Pharoah will make a public appearance between races at Santa Anita on Gold Cup at Santa Anita Day, Saturday, June 27. The champion colt paraded at Churchill Downs last Saturday following the fifth race.

"We want to again thank American Pharoah's owner, Ahmed Zayat and his trainer, Bob Baffert, for being so incredibly generous in sharing this horse with fans from coast to coast," said Brackpool. "We're excited to be able to present him to the public on June 27. It should make for a tremendous day for those joining us on-track and on television throughout the world."

[SportsNetwork.com]