Pharoah expected to face 9 challengers

Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner American Pharoah figures to have nine challengers when he runs in the Belmont Stakes next week, trying to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years.

Seven of his expected rivals return from the Derby or the Preakness, while two others are new to the Triple Crown trail.

The latest horse to join the mix Thursday was The Truth or Else, who has two wins in two starts at Belmont Park. He is trained by Ken McPeek, who ended War Emblem’s Triple try in 2002 with 70-1 shot Sarava.

Other expected runners are Carpe Diem (10th in Derby); Fram

mento (11th in Derby); Frosted (fourth in Derby); Keen Ice (seventh in Derby); Madefromlucky; Materiality (sixth in Derby); Mubtaahij (eighth in Derby); and Tale of Verve (second in Preakness).

The field will be set next Wednesday, when

ent ries are taken and post positions drawn.

Bob Baffert, who trains American Pharoah, downplayed the issue of Derby horses skipping the Preakness to rest up five weeks and run in the Belmont.

“I don’t blame them,” he said Thursday. “That part of the Triple Crown doesn’t bother me at all.”

Baffert won’t send American Pharoah from Kentucky to Belmont Park until Tuesday, and the horse won’t have an offici al workout over the big oval.

“That’s my comfort zone,” he said. “I’ve had so much luck shipping out of Churchill Downs and winning Grade 1 races. I feel more confident doing that than if I was just sitting around up there.”

Baffert is confident in American Pharoah and his preparation, and the only pressure he’s feeling is on behalf of racing fans that have waited for 36 years to see another Triple Crown winner.

“I don’t want to let those fans down,” he said. “Every year we go, ‘This is the one.’ Hopefully, maybe, this is the one.”

“So far all indications show me that he’s doing well. It’s about the horse now. Is he that good of a horse to do it?”