American Pharoah captures horse racing’s first Triple Crown since 1978
The wait is over. Thoroughbred racing finally has its 12th Triple Crown champion.
American Pharoah accomplished the feat by easily winning the Belmont Stakes on Saturday in New York.
“Wow! Wow!” jockey Victor Espinoza told reporters moments after crossing the finish line. “I can only tell you it’s just an amazing thing.”
The last horse to win the Triple Crown by winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont in the same year was Affirmed in 1978. Others to do it were Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973) and Seattle Slew (1977).
Thirteen horses, since 1978, had won the first two legs but failed to win Belmont and capture the Triple Crown.
American Pharoah is owned by Zayat Stables and trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert. It was the first Belmont win for Espinoza and second for Baffert, who won the Belmont in 2001 with Point Given.
“That little horse, he deserved it,” Baffert said. “He’s the one that did it. We were basically just passengers.”
Baffert and Espinoza had experience trying for the Triple Crown. Baffert achieved it on his fourth try, having lost in 1997 with Silver Charm, 1998 with Real Quiet and 2002 with War Emblem. Espinoza got it done with his third shot after coming up short in 2002 and last year on California Chrome.
American Pharoah appeared in control throughout Saturday’s race, taking the lead at the start from his No. 5 post position and setting a slow pace while moving to the rail. Materiality was on his outside in second but never applied any serious pressure on the backstretch before falling back in the second turn and finishing last in the field of eight.
“I was prepared for somebody coming because I’ve been through this so many times,” Baffert said.
Baffert didn’t have anything to worry about. American Pharoah just widened his advantage as he romped down Belmont’s home stretch.
“I just dropped the reins, and he just took off,” Espinoza said. “The roar began and built. Then it did not stop for three solid minutes.”
As American Pharoah neared the finish line, the crowd of 90,000 jumped up and down and took pictures with their phones.
“All I did was just take in the crowd,” Baffert said. “It was thundering, and I was just enjoying the call, the crowd, the noise, everything happening.”
American Pharoah ran the final quarter-mile — a stretch that has ended numerous Triple Crown bids — in 24.32 seconds, even faster than Secretariat’s time of 25 seconds in his famous 1973 Belmont victory.
“It’s just an amazing feeling that you have when you’re 20 yards from the wire,” Espinoza said. “And then at the wire I was like, ‘I cannot believe I did it.’ ”
American Pharoah finished 1 1/2 miles in 2 minutes, 26.65 seconds, the sixth-fastest time in Belmont history but well off Secretariat’s record of 2:24.00. Frosted was second on Saturday, 5 1/2 lengths behind, and Keen Ice third.
American Pharoah was the champion 2-year-old male horse last year and has been dominant this year. He won the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs Ark., before his Triple Crown run.
American Pharoah’s Triple Crown started with a one-length victory in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., and then he won the Preakness on a wet track at Pimlico in Baltimore by 7 lengths.
Among those in the crowd Saturday was Penny Chenery, the 93-year-old owner of Secretariat. She told reporters that she was “thrilled” that the Triple Crown club had a new member. To owner Ahmed Zayat, she said, “Welcome.”
The 11 previous Triple Crown winners are recognized in the Belmont infield, and American Pharoah’s name and silks were put up moments after he crossed the finish line.
“He’s just a great horse,” Baffert said. “It takes a great horse to do it.”
This story was originally published June 6, 2015 at 6:09 PM with the headline "American Pharoah captures horse racing’s first Triple Crown since 1978."