CA shippers into Saratoga
 

I'm in a discussion with someone about American Pharoah and what if any effect shipping from CA to The Graveyard had on him. I think it had zero effect alone, that it was the challenged pace and maybe one flight too many after the cumulative racing. I thought I could find stats on horses shipping in from CA but have found nothing thus far. Does anyone have the state or any comments in general?

Did he ship from California to Saratoga?

He ran in the Haskell on 8/2, and then the Travers on 8/29. Not 100% sure, but I don't remember him shipping back to California and then back to the East Coast in those 4 weeks.

He did.

He lost bc Frosted took it to him and Victor battled him the entire way instead of maybe relaxing AP ...i would never fault a rider for being too agressive with the best horse but I think maybe had he let Frosted go and sit off him it might have been a different result?
I don't know if all of the travel affected him or not...it probably did like it does in all sports....the golden state warriors play better at home then they do in Cleveland and the Patriots play better at home than they do in Denver ....anyway I'm still salty no other speeds went to the Classic in fear of AP....i know everyone wanted to see Liam's Map and AP hook up including myself but they put the horse in the best spot for a win and I can never fault an owner or trainer for that ...btw I thought Liam's Map BC mile was thr most impressive race all last yr...but anyways I digress....why not a horse like Private Zone take a shot against AP in the classic last yr? No way AP would have engaged him early going 10 furs ... PZ could have had an easy lead and maybe kept going...i hate taking anything away from AP bc he was one hell of a race horse but I was sad to see how many horses ducked him last fall at Keeneland

I don't recall the weather at the time, but if it was hot and humid the day of the Travers and AP had not yet acclimated, I could see how that could easily affect his performance.

Overall, shippers from DMR and SA did very well last year. I could break it down further, but I don't think it's an issue.

American Pharoah had a lot more early speed than Frosted and was a proven frontrunner, also breaking inside of Frosted, and on top of that the opening 2f of the Travers were rather pokey. I don't think there was any way or any reason for American Pharoah not to land on the lead.

Right. Anything could happen on a case by case basis, but you are generally on solid footing playing horses shipping east from California.