American Pharoah has drawn post four for his first start since his historic sweep of the Triple Crown in Sunday’s GI Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.

“We have never had a Triple Crown winner race in New Jersey before,” said Dennis Drazin, consultant to the operators of Monmoth Park. “This will be a historic day for Monmouth Park.”

Monmouth Park’s oddsmaker Brad Thomas has installed the champion as the 1-5 morning line favourite in the field of eight.

“He’s holding his form and that’s the whole key after all he’s been through,” said his trainer Bob Baffert, who is seeking a record eighth Haskell victory.

“He had to show me that before I put him on the plane. My job is to keep him healthy and happy and ready to roll.”

Holy Bull Stakes winner Upstart is the second choice on the morning line at 6-1.

The Rick Violette trainee is having his first start since a disappointing effort behind American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby on May 2.

He has the pole draw with Joe Bravo in the irons for the first time.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Competitive Edge, winner of last year’s G1 Hopeful Stakes and this year’s G3 Pat Day Mile, drew gate 2 and is the third choice at 8-1.

Also entered is Belmont Stakes third Keen Ice, recent Monmouth allowance winner Top Clearance and hometown hero Mr. Jordan will break from gate five.

Trained by Eddie Plesa and ridden by Paco Lopez, Mr Jordan was last seen winning the G3 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park on June 21.

Todd Pletcher also runs Nonna’s Boy and Dontbetwithbruno

• THE New York Racing Association will raise the purse for the GI Travers Stakes at Saratoga on August 29 to $1.6 million should American Pharoah start.

Should American Pharoah start in the Travers, the guaranteed winner’s prize will rise to $850,000 from the current guarantee of $675,000.

The prizemoney scale will also rise for the second through to eighth place from $270,000 for the runner-up down to $45,000 for eighth place.

“New York loves a champion, and there is no more fitting place for American Pharoah to continue his march into sporting immortality than competing before the greatest, most knowledgeable and most passionate racing fans anywhere in the world at historic Saratoga,” said NYRA chief executive and president Christopher Kay.