Posted on 06/06/2015 5:35:21 PM PDT by servo1969
American Pharoah became the first horse in over three decades Saturday to earn the Triple Crown, placing 1st in the Belmont Stakes after winning the Preakness and the Kentucky Derby earlier in the season.
In one of the sporting world's rarest feats, the bay colt with the unusually short tail defeated seven rivals in the grueling 1 1/2-mile race, covering the distance in 2:26.65 to end the longest stretch without a Triple Crown champion in history.
American Pharoah is the 12th horse and first since Affirmed in 1978 to win three races on different tracks at varying distances over a five-week span. He won the Kentucky Derby by one length on May 2 and then romped to a seven-length victory in the rainy Preakness two weeks later.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
American Pharoah is owned by Zayat Stables, which is headed by Ahmed Zayat. Pharoah was bred by the stable and was born in February 2012 in Lexington, Ky. Pharoah is the son of Pioneerof the Nile, who finished second in the 2009 Kentucky Derby. Ahmed Zayat said before the Belmont that American Pharoah likely would retire at the end of 2015. Zayat also announced that Pharoah would stand at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky, from which he fetched an undisclosed stud fee that, Zayat announced, would escalate based on performance. Justin Zayat, son of Ahmed Zayat, told ESPN in May that the stable rejected offers of more than $20 million from breeding farms.
Pharoah, a bay colt with a white star on his forehead, outraced Firing Line and Dortmund, among others, to win the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby on May 2. Two weeks later, Pharoah outclassed a field that again included Dortmund and Mr. Z to win 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes on a sloppy course after a heavy rainstorm. The Belmont Stakes, at 1 1/2 miles, is longer than either of the first two legs of the Triple Crown and is thus known as the “Test of the Champion.” Pharoah entered Saturday with more than $3.7 million in career earnings; the Belmont pays out a purse of $800,000 to race winners.
He won by pulling away from his rivals at the end of the one and 1/2 mile race.
When was the last Triple Crown winner in baseball? 1967?
How was anyone supposed to make any money off this race? Brutal payouts.
They tried to sell that horse not too long ago, right? No qualified bids over the reserve price I think.
Now they win all that money
Please tell me the reporter knows that it has to be these 3 particular races!!
That horse was flying and not at all pleased after the race. Kind of just done with it!
Pharaoh Øbama thinks its all about him.
I wept when he crossed the finish line by six lengths — after a mile and a half distance, which none of these horses had ever run before.
He led nose to nose.
He is a truly great horse. I am so very glad for him, and the people around him who trained and cared for him. And that definitely includes his main trainer, Bob Baffert (whom my husband detests, and so is not pleased with the outcome of this race).
Great race. Except for all my bets (my fancy ones all lost but I did have AP to win). Fantastic horse. It’s about time!
Make that: He led wire to wire. And finished six lengths ahead of his next challenger.
It was an amazing wonderful day for horse racing!!!
I am so very, very happy!!!
Just got to see the race. What a beautiful horse. You can see how hard he has to be held back early in the races, he loves running.
After his run at the Preakness, I figured he could win this one. He was just getting started in the Preakness.
Not a race fan but I tuned it in. What a great win.
I thought the guy sold it. He regretted it and bought him back.
American Pharaoh, I LOVE YOU!!!
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