American Pharoah's connections fielded offers from tracks around the country following his historic Triple Crown run, dangling large purses, added incentives, and promotional gimmicks. The eagerly anticipated next start for racing's biggest star was destined to be the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park as New Jersey-based Zayat Stables' Ahmed Zayat expressed that desire for his homebred son of Pioneerof the Nile following the Belmont Stakes. Trainer Bob Baffert's record in Monmouth's signature event -- seven wins (one with Zayat's Paynter in 2012), three seconds and a third -- seemed a precursor of greater things to come.

A week of celebration and a record crowd of 60,983 greeted the champion, and he delivered, cruising home with ease.

Writer Vinnie Perrone devled into the career of trainer Mary Eppler. An accounting degree and job at Blue Cross Blue Shield in the late 1970s morphed into working at Sagamore Farm, training classic hopefuls, including Traitor and Victory Gallop, and a long career that included stable star, former claimer Page McKenney. "In 17 starts over 15 months, Page McKenney finished third or better without fail, earned more than $700,000 for owner Adam Staple and stamped himself a bona-fide Mid-Atlantic handicap star at age 5."

Claimed for $16,000 at Penn National in July 2013, Pennsylvania-bred Page McKenney retired at age 8 with earnings of $1,905,940. He ran in 33 consecutive stakes from August 2014 through his last start on July 29, 2018, won 15, and finished in the top three 29 times, plus two fourths.