OCEANPORT — Kelly John Breen has been around champion thoroughbreds for more than 30 years, but even the 46-year-old horse trainer with a Belmont Stakes winner to his credit was awestruck when American Pharoah arrived to take up residence in his Monmouth Park barn Wednesday.
"I just got to touch him myself for a second and it was pretty neat to say, 'Hey, we've been around a Triple Crown winner,' '' said Breen, an Old Bridge native who was among the first to greet American Pharoah at the Jersey Shore racetrack. "It's pretty amazing. He's a rock star. To put it in our terms in horse racing, he's what everybody wants to achieve.''
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American Pharoah arrives at Monmouth Park for Haskell Invitational (VIDEO)
The 3-year-old bay colt owned by Teaneck resident Ahmed Zayat — who will race in a probable seven-horse field Sunday evening in the 48th edition of the William Hill Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park — made his first appearance in New Jersey in style, landing at Atlantic City International via first-class equestrian charter aircraft from California's Ontario International Airport at 2:10 p.m.
"American Pharoah arrived rested, ready and without delay,'' Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Program Director EJ Mullins said. "We were very happy to be the arrival destination for this remarkable Triple Crown winner.''
He then traveled aboard a horse van, which was painted in his light blue and yellow silk-colors and stamped with the words "2015 Triple Crown winner'' and "Welcome to Monmouth Park'' on the side.
"It sunk in when Mr. Zayat gave me his word he was bringing his horse (to Monmouth Park),'' said Dennis Drazin, a chief advisor to Darby Development, which operates Monmouth Park. "But reality is seeing it with your own eyes. So it makes me proud to be a part of all this.''
Monmouth Park is giving American Pharoah the royal-carpet treatment, placing him in Breen's barn, which is nicknamed, "Hotel California.''
"I think between Monmouth Park, with the couple of banners they put out, and us just keeping the place clean,'' Breen said, "it's pretty nice out here.''
American Pharoah will be back in action Thursday, galloping Monmouth Park's dirt oval between 7:30 and 7:50 a.m. Track officials are opening up the Clubhouse between 7 and 8 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, free of charge, for anyone who wants to watch American Pharoah and the other Haskell starters workout.
Overseeing it all will be Bob Kulina, the president of Monmouth Park's operating company. Kulina, 66, was introduced to the Jersey Shore track in 1963, visiting this same backstretch at age 13 with his father, Joe, a longtime horse trainer.
By 1972, he was working in the racing office at Monmouth and on his way to a career in management at the 145-year old track.
"I've been here a long time,'' said Kulina, standing outside Barn No. 12 as the sound of police sirens signaled American Pharoah's arrival. "I don't know if anything will ever top this. This is a huge deal.
"I think this will have the most star appeal of any race ever in New Jersey.''
Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ.