Trainer John Terranova looked out at the row of tall oak trees that split the courtyard in front of his barn late on the morning of Aug. 24, enjoying the serenity that won't last much longer.
 
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah is expected to arrive at Saratoga Race Course Wednesday for the Travers (gr. I) Aug. 29 following a cross-country flight from California. As the colt did before making history in the Belmont Stakes Presented by DraftKings (gr. I), he will take up residence with Terranova.
 
"We're ready," Terranova said. "We're thrilled he's coming. It's going to be a lot of fun and, hopefully, everything goes well, he ships in healthy and safe and we get another chance at seeing the super horse around us."
 
Bob Baffert's assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes will travel with American Pharoah, later to be joined by the Hall of Fame trainer and owner Ahmed Zayat. Baffert has traditionally stabled his horses with Terranova when they race in New York.
 
"They're going to come in and fluff things up a bit and kind of secure different spots around the barn, just for everybody's safety, horses and people," Terranova said. "Hopefully, it'll all go smooth. He's a very intelligent horse; we've seen that already from him. It'll be fun. It's special for us just to be around a horse like that.
 
"We've seen a lot of good ones and Bob's had a lot of good ones that we've been real close to, but never got to see something like this," he said. "A horse like him, what he's accomplished and just his whole nature and everything about him, it's pretty unique."
 
Baffert has praised Terranova and his wife, Tonja, for their hospitality and help in the days leading up to the Belmont. Terranova first met Baffert when he moved to California to train in 1991. He has housed Baffert's horses, and vice versa, since moving back to New York two years later.
 
"He's got a great group of people around him; they're fantastic. They've got him ready on their end, and we'll do our part of help out," Terranova said. "Whatever we need to do to make things go as smooth as they can be here, we'll do. We'll get to see him and enjoy him again and, hopefully, he gets it done. It'd be amazing. It looks like he's ready."