By Terri Vermeulen Keith
ARCADIA (CNS) – The team behind Santa Anita Park-based American Pharoah is basking in the first Triple Crown to be won in 37 years, as the horse won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6.
American Pharoah was on the lead for the entire 1 1/2-mile race, and finished 5 1/2 lengths in front of his closest competitor, Frosted, in a race that will put him into the record books. The 3-year-old bay colt, who sports earplugs and a curiously short tail, managed to accomplish what a dozen other Triple Crown Contenders – most recently California Chrome last year – had failed to do since Affirmed won the Belmont in 1978.
“Wow! Wow! It’s just an amazing thing,” said American Pharoah’s jockey, Victor Espinoza, who won the Triple Crown in his third try after losses aboard War Emblem and California Chrome. “It’s just unbelievable how things work out.”
Trainer Bob Baffert said he was feeling “very emotional” and wished his parents were still alive to see the victory. “I just feel like I have a very special horse. He’s the one that won. It wasn’t me,” Baffert said. “This horse has been so magical this spring and for all these races.”
Ecstatic owner Ahmed Zayat said, “This is for the sport! This is for all of you!”
The capacity crowd of 90,000 at Belmont Park stood and cheered American Pharoah, as did a crowd of fans at his home base, Santa Anita, where the colt won the Front Runner Stakes last fall. The Belmont victory brought American Pharoah’s record to seven wins in eight races. His only loss came in his first start last August at Del Mar, in which he finished fifth. American Pharoah eventually captured the award for top 2-year-old male colt for his campaign last year. His Triple Crown win likely will catapult him to the top of the list of contenders for the prestigious Horse of the Year title.
Earlier this week, Baffert said he knew how tough it is to win the Triple Crown after losses with Silver Charm, Real Quiet and War Emblem, and didn’t want to get ahead of himself. After the Belmont win, the Hall of Fame trainer said, “He’s just a great horse. It takes a great horse to do it.”
