Examining American Pharoah's Odds of Ending Triple Crown Drought After Derby Win

American Pharoah entered the 2015 Kentucky Derby with great expectations. The three-year-old colt had torched the competition in his previous races, and racegoers anxiously waited to see how he'd fare against other top contenders such as Dortmund.

Well, Pharoah lived up to the hype, winning the 141st Run for the Roses by a length in front of a record crowd. The victory has already sparked buzz of the 37-year Triple Crown drought finally coming to an end.

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No horse has been able to achieve the feat of emerging victorious in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes since Affirmed in 1978. Last year, talk of California Chrome taking the Triple Crown was significant, but there may be even more reason to think Pharoah will get it done in 2015.

California Chrome was a talented horse; there's no doubt about it. However, he entered Churchill Downs as a big favorite and received a favorable draw to boot. Pharoah, on the other hand, was a favorite but not an overwhelming one, as Dortmund and Carpe Diem garnered significant attention as well—especially after Pharoah's unlucky draw, which forced him to start from far outside.

Despite those obstacles, Pharoah put on a show at Churchill Downs, breaking cleanly from the gate, maneuvering to the front, patiently waiting for his time to strike, and finishing with great speed and endurance. That run deserves Triple Crown hype. Just in case you aren't quite sold, take a look at the race one more time:

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Pharoah's run was the additional distance he was forced to cover. While starting from the outside was a daunting task in itself, jockey Victor Espinoza decided to run the colt three-wide for the majority of the 1 ¼-mile race in an effort to avoid traffic and maintain a good position to strike down the final stretch.

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The fact that Pharoah had the endurance to cover that distance and finish the race with enough blazing speed to outlast Dortmund and Firing Line—two excellent closers—is incredible.

After the win, owner Ahmed Zayat summed up his horse during an interview with Christine Brennan of USA Today, simply stating, "Pharoah is a freak of nature."

So, what do oddsmakers think about Pharoah's chances to continue his winning ways?

According to Odds Shark, Pharoah is even money to win the Preakness Stakes. That's quite a vote of confidence. As for the Triple Crown, Pharoah currently boasts 9-4 odds of achieving the elusive feat.

There's a reason the Triple Crown drought has lasted 37 years. It's incredibly difficult for a horse to remain fresh enough to perform at its highest level for three consecutive races over such a short span of time. However, given Pharoah's run in the Kentucky Derby, there's reason to believe he has the stamina to get it done.

The Triple Crown drought can't last forever, and it may end sooner than you think.