Preakness 2015 Winner: Video Highlights, Analysis of American Pharoah's Victory
The Triple Crown hype has been cranked up into overdrive after the 2015 Preakness Stakes, as American Pharoah sauntered to glory in the showpiece race at Pimlico Race Course.
Having won the Kentucky Derby a fortnight earlier, the Bob Baffert-trained colt backed up the Churchill Downs victory with a classy performance from the rail to take the second leg of the Triple Crown. Now, all eyes will turn to the Belmont Stakes next month, as American Pharoah goes in search of history.
Triumph at the New York venue and he’ll become the first horse to have won all three of the illustrious thoroughbred chases since Affirmed in 1978. Here’s a recap of how American Pharoah made this possible and a closer look at how he’s likely to fare over the Belmont distance.
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Here’s a how Pharoah romped to an easy victory at Preakness:
American Pharoah Oozing Triple Crown Aura
While the anticipation leading up to the Belmont Stakes is set to be immersive and unrelenting, it’s important a measure of caution is exercised. After all, as Sports Center notes here, there are plenty of horses since Affirmed to have backed up a Kentucky triumph with a win at Preakness before faltering at the final hurdle:
The manner in which American Pharoah has won both of his races bodes very well for a shot at the Belmont Stakes, however. With the savvy Victor Espinoza aboard, the three-year-old came from behind to win at Churchill Downs, while at Pimlico, he seized first position early and romped clear of the rest of the field.
Starting from Post 1, getting away clean was always going to be vital in the Preakness Stakes. And although American Pharoah didn’t fly out of the traps, his natural speed and the astute guidance of Espinoza saw him surge to the front of the pack.
As noted by Rob Mayeda of NBC, even though the conditions were tough, the Derby champions made victory look very easy indeed:
American Pharoah is clearly an adaptable horse and that’s going to be crucial by the time Belmont rolls around. So much can go wrong at the New York circuit, as fatigue ramps up and the added distance bites. The fact that 13 have failed to add the final chase to wins at Pimlico and Churchill Downs says all that's needed on how tough it is.
The Preakness winner seems to have enough in the tank to get the job done, though. Indeed, the manner in which he got off the rail and blitzed the rest of the field here was very impressive, giving us a glimpse into the fortitude and staying power needed to go well in the longer distance at Belmont.
As noted by Carson Daly of The Voice, this horse is a real battler:
Mix in the raw speed and power he possesses, along with the know-how of the excellent Espinoza in the saddle and American Pharoah has as good a chance as any horse that’s won Kentucky-Preakness since Affirmed. Indeed, odds of 71/100 on victory at Belmont, per OddsShark.com, are reflective of a horse that seems to have what it takes.
Being in Post 1 and racing in perilously difficult conditions are the kind of factors that can easily scupper a Triple Crown bid, but American Pharoah did not only find a way to win, but dominated. If he can preserve these levels when he takes to the gate at Belmont in June, history is there to be seized for this stunning colt.
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