OCEANPORT – Excitement for Sunday’s William Hill Haskell Invitational horse race and the appearance of Triple Crown Winner American Pharoah is heightening as crowds converged on Monmouth Park on Friday for a glimpse of the champion.
American Pharoah, Jersey’s own 3-year-old, took his workout at about 7:30 Friday morning much to the thrill of the approximately 5,000 fans who came to see the horse run. Monmouth Park permitted the public in the grandstand, admission-free for the morning two-laps around the track.
Vincent Carlesimo of Wall, who co-owns a thoroughbred named Gorgeous Morning which is stabled and runs at Monmouth Park, said, “This is the biggest thing to happen in horse racing in New Jersey ever,” as he awaited American Pharoah to take the field.
It was also his opportunity to see a world-class sports champion, up close and personal, he contended. “How close can you get to Derek Jeter?” he asked.
“Just seeing him gives you goose bumps,” acknowledged Al DeVito, a former horse owner on hand early on Friday.
Mark Rubenstein, another former owner, said, “This is the moment you look for,” a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
The crowds on hand at that early hour spoke to the draw of what more than one track attendee called “a rock star” of the horseracing world.
“That’s a good crowd for a Friday race day,” to say nothing of 7:30 a.m., Rubenstein observed.
Prior to the 12:50 p.m. call for the day’s first race, additional throngs surrounded the track’s paddock, in front of the clubhouse, where American Pharoah was marched out along with the first race’s competitors.
Standing in the hot sun, pressed against the paddock’s fence, Highlands resident Alexis Rogel said, “It’s worth it.
“To be so close and not come,” said Rogel, who was celebrating her birthday, “Shame on you,” to miss it.
American Pharoah’s assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said Friday’s appearances would be the last for the horse until Sunday’s race. The horse would rest on Saturday under tight security, he said.
The Haskell would be one of the horse’s final races. In the coming months, American Pharoah would run in three more contests—including this year’s Breeder’s Cup—and would then retire, according to Barnes.
