American Pharoah Won’t Run at Canterbury Park

SHAKOPEE (AP) — Canterbury Park officials say Triple Crown winner American Pharoah will not run in the Mystic Lake Derby next month.

The Shakopee track had hoped to lure American Pharoah, the first Triple Crown winner since 1978, by boosting the purse to $2 million.

But Canterbury's vice president of racing operations, Eric Halstrom,says he spoke over the weekend with the horse's trainer, Bob Baffert, and Justin Zayat, son of owner Ahmed Zayat. Halstrom says both "respectfully declined" Canterbury's offer.

Ahmed Zayat announced last month that American Pharoah will resume racing Aug. 1 in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at New Jersey's Monmouth Park.

The Aug. 29 Mystic Lake Derby will offer its original purse of $200,000.