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Triple Crown Champ American Pharoah To Return To Santa Anita This Week

ARCADIA (CBSLA.com) — Triple Crown hero American Pharoah is set to return home to Santa Anita nearly two weeks after achieving racing history.

Pharoah's dominant first-place finish in the Belmont Stakes on June 6 marked the first winning of the Triple Crown since 1978, adding a name to the history books and commanding attention worldwide.

The Santa Anita-based horse, owned by Ahmen Zayat and trained by Bob Baffert, is set to return home to Southern California from Louisville. After landing at Ontario International Airport, he will be escorted by a six law enforcement units to The Great Race Place.

"Along with the rest of the country, we were in awe of American Pharoah's performance in the Belmont Stakes last Saturday and we're honored to be able to welcome him back home here to Santa Anita," Santa Anita Chairman Keith Brackpool said. "We'd like to congratulation Mr. Zayat, Bob Baffert and 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."

Prior to winning his first leg of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby on May 2, American Pharoah had eight works at his Santa Anita base.

Pharoah will be greeted by his trainer and his jockey, Espinoza, as well as media at the Baffert Barn on Thursday, and is expected to parade for the public on Santa Anita's main track between races on June 27, according to Santa Anita Park.

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