Kentucky Derby 2015 Video: Highlights, Replay of American Pharoah's Victory

The 2015 Kentucky Derby saw American Pharoah race to victory and into the public consciousness as a legitimate Triple Crown threat during Saturday's 141st Run for the Roses.

American Pharoah finished just one length out in front of Firing Line and moved past his barn mate Dortmund, who had won six prior starts leading into Churchill Downs.

The horses that finished in the money were all among the pre-race favorites, but American Pharoah lived up to his billing as the one to beat. Trained by a Hall of Famer in Bob Baffert and jockeyed by now three-time Derby champion Victor Espinoza, American Pharoah's connections and firepower were too great to deny.

ESPN Stats & Info highlighted how large Baffert looms in the record books:

Espinoza rode California Chrome to victory in the Kentucky Derby last year and backed it up with a Preakness Stakes triumph. He pulled the same trick in 2002 aboard Baffert's last Derby champion, War Emblem.

All indications are that American Pharoah has the talent to get the job done and pull off the first Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. It wasn't an easy jaunt to the winner's circle in Louisville, because he started so far from the rail and had to use his speed to maintain a strong pace set by Dortmund in the early going.

Taking into consideration all his experience as context, Baffert's comments afterward were telling, per KentuckyDerby.com's John Asher:

"

Getting the fourth Derby means nothing to me. It means that they gave me a really good horse and I didn't screw it up. I had the talent. Anybody could have trained this horse and won it. I don't feel like I did anything special.

If you look back at all the Triple Crown runners, they ran a lot. I think a lot has to deal with who you are running against and how tough it is. This was such a tough Derby. This was the toughest Derby I've been in.

"

Even the best efforts of a three-time Derby champion jockey in Gary Stevens, who was in the irons for Firing Line, couldn't stop American Pharoah from crossing the finish first.

Beyond what's been said already, what more needs to be said? American Pharoah is for real. He proved it at Churchill Downs, and his 5-2 odds from Odds Shark to win the Triple Crown speak volumes to his sensational speed.

The Preakness Stakes is next up for American Pharoah. Given his speed and the smaller size of the field at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, it's hard to think of anyone who could give him a serious run for his money.

Firing Line and Dortmund figure to be candidates to enter. Stevens won the 2013 Preakness aboard a long shot in Oxbow, so Firing Line may well be the top threat to derail American Pharoah's Triple Crown bid.

Endurance won't be as big of a key at a shorter, 9.5-furlong track at Pimlico. Although it is a quick turnaround to May 16, American Pharoah seems to have the savvy connections and physical skills to overcome that and find the winner's circle yet again in the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.