SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Trainer John Terranova II's New York barn has been a home away from home for Bob Baffert's shippers for the longest time.

"Bob's horses have been staying with us going all the way back to Cavonnier (in 1996)," said Terranova, whose wife, Tonja, worked as assistant for the California-based Baffert in the 1990's. "He's sent us some great horses over the years, but ..." Yes, but.

But never before has Terranova's barn housed a visitor along the lines of the royalty that is headed there Wednesday.

With Sunday's announcement that Triple Crown champion American Pharoah will indeed race in the $1.6 million Travers Stakes on Saturday, Terranova's barn will soon be the epicenter for an eruption of excitement, the likes of which have been unseen at Saratoga for decades.

Hundreds of spectators, perhaps even thousands, are expected to be on hand Friday morning when owner Ahmed Zayat's champion does nothing more than jog around the racetrack to stretch his legs. In a town where horse racing already pushes the New York Yankees and New York Giants into the background for 40 summer days, he will be a powerful magnet for attention, as an industry starving for attention awaits a race that can be labeled special, even by Saratoga's lofty standards.

"There has not been a Triple Crown winner for 37 years, so the fact he's coming to the Travers is a very special thing," said Martin Panza, the New York Racing Association's Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. "He's obviously an amazing horse.

"Considering the grand tradition of the Travers and how this town embraces horse racing, it's the right spot for him."

Heightening the excitement is a race that should pose a challenge worthy of a great champion. On Saturday, in front of a sellout crowd of 50,000 at the Spa and millions more watching on network television, the Baffert-trained American Pharoah will square off against a field that will include Breeders' Cup Juvenile and Jim Dandy winner Texas Red as well Belmont Stakes and Jim Dandy runner-up Frosted and Haskell runner-up Keen Ice at a demanding mile-and-a-quarter distance on a track known as "The Graveyard of Favorites."

Get the popcorn ready for a day that promises to be long remembered.

"This Travers is going to be a part of history," Panza said. "When you look back on the big days of racing this is certainly going to be one of the most historic days ever at Saratoga or any other racetrack. It's pretty cool to be a part of that. If you're a fan of racing, I cannot see how are you not going to be here, or watching at a nearby track or on television or on your computer. It's going to be a huge day."

While Zayat said after his horse's impressive victory in the Haskell that the Travers was his preferred option for American Pharoah's next race, the plane ride to New York was not booked until after the 12th Triple Crown winner's sharp 1:23.20 seven-furlong workout at Del Mar on Sunday. A few hours later, NYRA CEO and President Chris Kay announced to a cheering crowd at the Spa for that day's races that the weeks of wondering and waiting were over. Baffert, a year after he had sent out Haskell winner Bayern to finish last in the Travers, had given his blessing and American Pharoah would attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner to capture the Midsummer Derby since Whirlaway in 1941.

"We're thrilled that he's coming to Saratoga," Kay said during a press conference. "I'll never forget the wall of sound that enveloped us at the Belmont Stakes, and it would be great to have that same kind of moment here again."

To put that moment in motion, it took a concerted effort that was viewed as a priority for the NYRA among its numerous pressing items, such as putting together a Saratoga racing season that sets the sport's bar for excellence -- with or without a Triple Crown winner.

"We've been working on this since the Belmont Stakes. It was always at the top of the list," Panza said. Chris and I were at Del Mar on opening day [July 16] and we sat with Mr. Zayat for an hour to discuss the Travers with him. We were overseas at Ascot and talked with the Coolmore people who will have American Pharoah when he goes to stud. We've been back and forth with Bob for the last two months. I told him, 'You know we want the horse and here's what we can do and let's stay in touch.' In July the answer was, 'I think I'm coming, but the horse will tell me.' So he's always been honest with us, telling us that if the horse was doing well, that this was the logical spot to be."

It was a tricky courtship, especially with Baffert owning a record of just one Travers win in five tries, but in the end, it was American Pharoah himself who made the final decision. Any hiccups after the Aug. 2 Haskell and that stall in Terranova's barn would have remained empty. But the manner in which American Pharoah has progressed in his training allowed Zayat and Baffert to bring their champion cross-country once again for a race -- and a day of racing -- that promises to be spellbinding.

"This was a little more intense because we knew a lot of tracks were going to make offers," Panza said. "It's nice that they stayed on the traditional path and that's why my hat is off to the Zayats. We're just along for the ride and we're really glad they are bringing him here. What we can do is prepare our facility and make it as easy as possible on the connections to race here, but at the end of the day, it's purely Bob and the Zayats and American Pharoah who made it happen."

And with some help from Terranova, who will be the innkeeper for the most famous guest to arrive at Saratoga in decades, the countdown for the frenzy has begun. American Pharoah is indeed bound for the Spa, and he's bringing the excitement with him.