It took 37 years but yesterday we finally got another Triple Crown winner! American Pharoah proved he is a champion Thoroughbred winning the Belmont Stakes in just 2:26.65. I watched from the simulcast televisions at Keeneland race track as happy tears streamed down my face. 90,000 fans attended the Belmont. It was exactly what I had been wanting to see but I was just so surprised that it finally happened.
American Pharoah held back for just a second when the gates opened but injust 2 jumps, coming from post #5, he took the lead and kept it. He won this race by 5 and 1/2 lengths. This is the 4th largest margin ever.
The bay colt, Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont stakes winner was born on Groundhog’s day, 2/2/2012 at Stockplace Farm in Kentucky. His sire was Pioneer of the Nile and his dam was Littleprincessemma by Yankee Gentleman. Pioneer of the Nile was 2nd in the 2009 KY Derby. American Pharoah has ran just 8 times and won the last 7 in a row. He was the 2014 Eclipse Award Champion 2 Year Old Colt. He will likely continue to run this year and compete in the Breeders’ Cup but is expected to retire to stud at the end of 2015. His stud rights have already been sold to Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
American Pharoah’s trainer is Robert A. Baffert born 1/13/1953. He was born and raised in Arizona. He became a jockey at a young age. Baffert received a B.S. from University of Arizona’s Track Industry Program. He has trained 4 KY Derby winners, 6 Preakness winners, 2 Belmont winners, 2 KY Oaks winners, 10 Breeders Cup winners and 2 Dubai Cup winners. He won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer in 1997, 1998 and 1999. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2009.
Victor Espinoza was the jockey. He was born 5/23/72 in Mexico. He became a jockey there and then in California. He has won the KY Derby 3 times and the Preakness 3 times. He was the 1st jockey ever to have a third chance at the Triple Crown and this time it worked out well for him. He is also the 1st Latino jockey to win all 3 legs and at 43 he is the oldest to do so as well.
Ahmed Zayat of Zayat Stables, LCC. is the breeder and owner of American Pharoah. He was born in Cairo, Egypt 8/31/62. He now lives in New Jersey. He has been racing Thoroughbreds since 2005 and has many graded stakes winner and has frequently lead in earnings.
I am hoping that American Pharoah continues to race some more and that I get a chance to see him in the Breeders’ Cup!
Share This: