American Pharoah Cues Triple Crown Hype as Latest Favorite to Win Kentucky Derby
For the third consecutive year, the betting favorite has won the Kentucky Derby, with American Pharaoh outpacing the field Saturday at Churchill Downs. It was a performance that hinted at something special on the horizon and officially launched the Triple Crown buzz for this year.
The hype will only grow after a record crowd of 170,513 showed up on a sun-baked afternoon at Churchill Downs, and not many left disappointed, the Bob Baffert trainee getting the job done as the betting favorite, per Odds Shark, returning $7.80 for the victory.
Standing in his way were 17 contenders on Saturday, including his highly regarded stablemate Dortmund. Yet American Pharoah proved he is the best three-year-old in training, and the Triple Crown hype is now officially in full swing.
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Actually, the hype surrounding American Pharoah started after his eight-length tour de force in the Arkansas Derby (G1), some saying he could be a freak and a potential Triple Crown winner.
With his win, the hype surrounding American Pharaoh’s Triple Crown bid will be ratcheted up to a new level. It could surpass last year when the modestly bred California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby as the favorite and quickly became “America’s Horse.”
Casual fans took a liking to the “underdog” owners Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, racing in the colors of DAP Racing, which stands for Dumb Ass Partners.
Since Affirmed last won the Triple Crown in 1978, we have had 13 horses that have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, but all failed to sweep the Triple Crown by losing the Belmont Stakes. California Chrome joined that club last year.
With each passing year, horse racing fans clamor for a chance to witness Triple Crown glory, but the feat remains elusive.
American Pharoah will arrive in Baltimore for the Preakness Stakes a hero, and likely will go off as the short-priced favorite.
However, not all Kentucky Derby winners have received the hype of recent winners California Chrome and now American Pharoah.
Mine That Bird pulled off the huge upset in 2009, slipping up the rail under Calvin Borel to pull off the shocker at odds of 50-1.
Considered a fluke victory, there was not much hype the gelding could win the Triple Crown. That was buoyed by the decision of Borel, who took off the Mine That Bird to ride Rachel Alexandra, the filly that had won the Kentucky Oaks (G1).
Mine That Bird not only was not considered a Triple Crown candidate, he was sent off as the third betting choice in the Preakness, behind Rachel Alexandra and Pioneerof the Nile.
Borel ultimately made the right choice, as Rachel Alexandra won the Preakness as the 8-5 favorite, with Mine That Bird checking in second.
Four years earlier, there was not much Triple Crown hype after another bomb won the Kentucky Derby, Giacomo came from the clouds under Mike Smith to pull off the upset at 50-1.
Afleet Alex was the buzz horse that spring, and after a third in the Run for the Roses came back to win both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
Giacomo did not get much respect in Baltimore, sent off as the third choice in the wagering behind Afleet Alex and High Fly, and finished third.
Over the past dozen years, we have seen the excitement surrounding the Triple Crown grow. Smarty Jones, Funny Cide, Barbaro and Big Brown were all Kentucky Derby winners that garnered extra attention from mainstream media and casual sports fans.
In 2012, many fans were convinced we were about to witness history after I’ll Have Another swept the first two jewels of the Triple Crown. However, the colt was scratched on the eve of the Belmont Stakes with a tendon injury, deflating the Triple Crown balloon at a level we had not seen before.
California Chrome’s Triple Crown bid last year is still fresh in the minds of many fans, and with American Pharoah now perfect in five consecutive starts (with his only loss being in his maiden race), the Triple Crown buzz is alive and well for the next two weeks.
Not only is American Pharoah a superstar, but Bob Baffert is the most recognizable trainer in the sport with four Kentucky Derby wins, and jockey Victor Espinoza has three wins to his credit.
If the colt and his connections are able to win the Preakness Stakes on May 16, the Triple Crown excitement in the three weeks leading up to the Belmont Stakes may lead us into a new stratosphere.
Betting Odds provided by Equibase unless otherwise noted.
Follow Michael Dempsey on Twitter @turfnsport.
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