Belmont Stakes 2015: Triple Crown Results, Standings, Payouts, Replay Highlights
Finally! For the first time in 37 years, we have a Triple Crown winner!
American Pharoah captured the ever-elusive third jewel of racing's Triple Crown with a superhuman effort in the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes.
If we're being fair, words can't do this race justice. Pharoah ended a drought that many racing fans felt would stay cast over the horse racing landscape for, well, eternity.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Say what you will about how it came nowhere near Secretariat's record-setting time of 2:24.00—they ran in 2:26.65 on Saturday—but American Pharoah's effort was equally impressive given the changes the sport has undergone in the 42 years that separate the Triple Crown-winning efforts.
While we come down from the high that the winning connections of Pharoah, jockey Victor Espinoza, trainer Bob Baffert and owner Ahmed Zayat just put us all in, let's take a look back at one of the most memorable efforts in the history of the Belmont Stakes and thoroughbred racing as a whole.
Final Order of Finish
| 1 | 5 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert |
| 2 | 6 | Frosted | Joel Rosario | Kiaran McLaughlin |
| 3 | 7 | Keen Ice | Kent Desormeaux | Dale Romans |
| 4 | 1 | Mubtaahij | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Michael De Kock |
| 5 | 4 | Frammento | Mike Smith | Nick Zito |
| 6 | 3 | Madefromlucky | Javier Castellano | Todd Pletcher |
| 7 | 2 | Tale of Verve | Gary Stevens | Dallas Stewart |
| 8 | 8 | Materiality | John Velazquez | Todd Pletcher |
Payouts
| American Pharoah | $3.50 | $2.80 | $2.50 |
| Frosted | -- | $3.50 | $2.90 |
| Keen Ice | -- | -- | $4.60 |
Triple Crown Results
Replay Highlights
As you can see in the video above, American Pharoah broke relatively poorly from the gate. Fortunately, the superstar colt rebounded well and got out to an early lead with a quarter-mile time of 24.06 seconds.
The Pioneerof The Nile colt continued to lead through a half-mile in 48.83 seconds, though Materiality followed close behind. The Afleet Alex colt seemed poised to make a strong run at Pharoah after three quarters went in 1:13.41, but he was full out by the time they reached the far turn and never drew closer than a half-length from drawing even with AP.
Frosted, the eventual second-place finisher, plodded away, running in the fourth and fifth positions for most of the backstretch run. It was easy to get caught up in the drama unfolding at the front of the pack, and all eyes were certainly glued on Pharoah and Materiality, but Frosted's rider, Joel Rosario, made a great move to get in on the rail before the field turned for home.
That bold move got Frosted into the third position, drawing in behind AP as they came out of the turn. As they entered the final furlong, Frosted was about a 1 ½ lengths back of Pharoah. But, somehow, the final result was never in doubt.
Pharoah continued to pull away from the Tapit colt even after Espinoza sheathed the whip for the final bit of racing.
Behind that duo, a hard-charging Keen Ice caught Mubtaahij, the international shipper trained by Michael De Kock, in the race's final furlong.
Pharoah won in wire-to-wire fashion, which, according to ESPN Stats & Info, puts him in elite company:
Pharoah eased the suffering of many a horse racing fan on Saturday, and he'll take his rightful place in the record books as a Triple Crown winner.
Follow me on Twitter! Follow @TylerDuma
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
