Triple Crown 2015: Key Obstacles American Pharoah Must Overcome to Triumph

Following American Pharoah's seven-length victory in a sodden Preakness Stakes on Saturday, excitement is mounting that there may be a Triple Crown winner in 2015.

Having edged the Kentucky Derby earlier this month, Bob Baffert-trained Pharoah is now just a Belmont Stakes win away from racing immortality.

However, it is a huge challenge, and one that has not been met successfully since Affirmed in 1978. American Pharoah has a lot going for him: a great trainer, a great jockey in Victor Espinoza and phenomenal raw pace and power.

Read on for a close look at the key obstacles Pharoah must overcome if the 37-year Triple Crown drought is to be ended in the Belmont Stakes on June 6.

Belmont Distance

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Historically earmarked as the downfall for so many potential Triple Crown chasers, the 12-furlong Belmont Stakes is longer than both the 10-furlong Derby and the shorter-still Preakness.

That means that Pharoah will need to show better stamina, better control and better timing than ever if he is to pull off a victory in New York.

As Benjamin Morris of FiveThirtyEight notes, the vast inexperience of modern-day horses over 12 furlongs is seemingly a key reason why the Triple Crown has been unattainable for so long:

"

They just don't run 12 furlongs like they used to: http://t.co/bCrsPEmwxd pic.twitter.com/yRdzl2RO7t

— Benjamin Morris (@skepticalsports) May 17, 2015"

American Pharoah has never covered the distance in a competitive race and will need to be ridden to perfection by Espinoza if he is to prevail.

However, he showed at the Derby that he can rise to a challenge, and he responded to a poor draw to prevail at Pimlico. It may just be that Pharoah can finally be the horse to come up trumps at the Belmont.

Strong Field

Another key obstacle for Pharoah will be his competition. The Belmont will attract a strong field, many of whom sat out the Preakness, and will thus be fresher come race day in June.

Some impressive horses from the Kentucky Derby are set to appear again in New York, all hoping to cause an upset and bag one of the year's most prestigious races, per The Wall Street Journal's Jim Chairusmi:

The likes of Todd Pletcher's Materiality and Frosted are sure to be serious contenders on the day, potentially able to draw on deeper reserves having sat out the Preakness.

While American Pharoah may have beaten all of those horses at Churchill Downs, it will be a completely different ballgame at the Belmont Stakes.

The Weight of History

American Pharoah will surely start the Belmont as a well-backed favourite. But many horses have been in the same position in the last 37 years.

Indeed, Espinoza went for the Triple Crown just last year aboard California Chrome and finished fourth at Belmont Park.

As FiveThirtyEight's Nate Silver reports, 12 previous horses have been well supported ahead of a Triple Crown bid but failed at the last hurdle:

It is a huge challenge for Pharoah, Espinoza, Baffert and the rest, and the pressure will be immense ahead of the race.

However, American Pharoah is a horse that has risen to every challenge he has faced thus far in his career, and he may just have what it takes to succeed where so many others have failed before him.