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Triple Crown winner American Pharoah returns to California

Triple Crown winner American Pharoah checks out the crowd surrounding the paddock at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, June 13, 2015. American Pharoah was on hand for a parade in front of the 30,000 fans in attendance and the engraved trophy presentation to the owners. (AP Photo/Garry Jones) Triple Crown winner American Pharoah checks out the crowd surrounding the paddock at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Saturday, June 13, 2015. American Pharoah was on hand for a parade in front of the 30,000 fans in attendance and the engraved trophy presentation to the owners. (AP Photo/Garry Jones)

By Associated Press June 18, 2015 1 min read

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was initially hesitant to leave Churchill Downs before returning to California and prepare for the next phase of his racing career.

The bay colt had been based at Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s Barn 33 on the track’s backside since mid-April before starting his historic quest toward becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner and first since 1978. A small group of fans and media said goodbye to American Pharoah as he boarded a transport van around 7:25 a.m. Thursday for a flight back to Santa Anita.

Baffert hasn’t specified when or where American Pharoah’s next race will be, but hopes to bring him back to Kentucky for this fall’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland. The 3-year-old has won seven of eight career starts.