Several hundred turned out to watch his first timed workout since his win in the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park on August 2 - and he didn't disappoint.

He went five furlongs in 60 seconds flat with regular track jockey Martin Garcia in the irons and was timed to gallop out six furlongs in 1:13.4.

American Pharoah is scheduled to work again next weekend, after which trainer Bob Baffert will decide if he will run in the Travers.

“If he's his usual brilliant self maybe the Travers will be a go,” said trainer Bob Baffert.

"We're trying to make it but he's going to have to really convince me. I have to be all in and really confident because I know he's going to have to run hard.

"He's been such a special horse and he has this following now. I want to make sure I do the right thing.”

American Pharoah's owner, Ahmed Zayat wants his champion colt to race at Saratoga but Baffert is haunted by past disappointments in the Travers Stakes although he did win the race in 2001 with Point Given.

He’s 1-for-5 in the race known as the Midsummer Derby, finishing third with Roman Ruler (2005) and out of the money with Coil (2011), Liaison (2012) and Bayern (2014).

"I've been pressured into bringing other horses," Baffert said. "Point Given is the only one I brought for the Travers that had a chance to win.

“The other ones, I was just trying to make something happen."

Anticipation is already high at Sratoga where posters have appeared publicising the Travers as "Pharoahtoga."