Tracing American Pharoah's Incredible Journey to the 2015 Triple Crown

It was nearly four decades in the making but well worth the wait, as American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

How did this colt succeed when talented runners like Spectacular Bid, Sunday Silence, Alysheba, Real Quiet and Smarty Jones could not?

There were a few bumps in the road, but talent, a masterful training job by Bob Baffert and crafty rides by Victor Espinoza put this colt in an illustrious group of just 12 horses that have won the elusive Triple Crown.

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The son of 2009 Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile was born on Feb. 2, 2012, and things did not go perfectly early on, from his name being misspelled to a barn-mate chewing off part of his tail.

Things did not go well the first time he raced in the afternoon, either, checking in fifth under jockey Martin Garcia as the betting favorite at Del Mar on Aug. 9, 2014.

Despite his loss, his Hall of Fame trainer thought enough of the colt to start him in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) in his next outing and made a jockey switch to Espinoza. The colt sailed to a gate-to-wire victory, going seven furlongs for his first career win.

Next up was a major prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), the FrontRunner (G1) at Santa Anita on Sept. 27. Again Espinoza rode the colt perfectly, jumping out to an early lead, controlling the pace and drawing clear late to win by 3 1/4 lengths. 

But then another setback: The colt was diagnosed with a deep foot bruise and scratched from the Juvenile just days before the race. Baffert had noticed the colt seemed off after a workout.

His juvenile campaign was still good enough to garner the Eclipse Award for top two-year-old, but it took nearly six months for Baffert to have the colt ready for his much-anticipated three-year-old debut.

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Baffert elected to bring the colt back in the Rebel Stakes (G2) at Oaklawn Park, a race he had won four of the five previous years.

The rains came and the track was sloppy, but the colt did not show any rust from being on the sidelines, wiring the field and drawing clear to win by 6 1/4 lengths. His experience in the slop would prove valuable in the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

Baffert shipped him back to Hot Springs for his final prep for the Run for the Roses in the Arkansas Derby (G1). In this race, Espinoza sat off the early lead and took command in the stretch, rolling to an eight-length win with plenty left in the tank.

Having just two preps off a five-month layoff brought him into the Triple Crown races in sharp form and with a full tank that left him with plenty of energy for three races in five weeks. With a race on an off track, and a race in which he sat off the pace, he was ready for any scenario that would await him in Louisville.

The hype was now in full swing, and the colt was sent off as the betting favorite in the 18-horse Kentucky Derby field. Espinoza put the colt in a perfect spot, sitting third while staying out of trouble toward the outside.

The jockey poked his head in front mid-stretch and battled on gamely to finally prevail by a length, the first time Espinoza had to work hard on the colt.

Espinoza went to the whip 32 times and was criticized for the extent to which he hit the colt to urge him to get to the wire first.

According to Kentucky chief state steward Barbara Borden, the stewards believed Espinoza's use of the crop "fell within our regulations and felt no disciplinary action was warranted,” per Alicia Hughes of Kentucky.com.

There were also some questions whether the colt had expended too much energy in the Kentucky Derby and might be vulnerable in the Preakness Stakes (G1) just two weeks later.

However, Baffert knows how to wheel runners back off short rest, having won the Preakness Stakes six times, including with Derby winners Silver Charm, Real Quiet and War Emblem.

In Baltimore, bettors showed plenty of confidence, sending the colt to the gate at odds of 4-5. The skies opened and the heavy downpour left the track a sea of sludge.

That did not concern Espinoza, who jumped the colt out to the early lead, and none of his seven rivals stood much of a chance, the colt ridden out to win by seven lengths in a dominant performance.

Then it was off to New York, with Baffert making his fourth bid at winning a Triple Crown, and Espinoza making his third.

Last year, Espinoza rode California Chrome, who finished fourth, and was aboard War Emblem in 2002, who lost all hope after stumbling coming out of the gate.

American Pharoah looked fit and ready in the three weeks leading up to the Belmont Stakes and came into the race with just one hard race in his four starts this year.

Again, Espinoza took control of things early, grabbing the early lead and dictating the early pace, rationing out the speed of his mount.

Turning for home, Frosted started to make a move, but American Pharoah had plenty left in reserve and pulled away to win by 5 1/2 lengths.

When asked by NBC’s Donna Barton Brothers when he thought he had the race won, Espinoza told a national television audience, “On the first turn. When he broke a little step slow, he sat back in the gate, but in two jumps, I was on the lead. I had the best feeling when he crossed the first turn.”

NBC’s Jerry Bailey, a Hall of Fame jockey, described Espinoza’s’ three Triple Crown rides as, “Perfect in every one of them. Getting American Pharoah to relax in the Kentucky Derby, he was key. Using that speed and giving him a breather in the Preakness, and today there really was not much for him to do but go to the lead.”

With the combination of several less-than-testing prep races, Baffert knowing how to have the colt fit and ready to fire big for the third time in five weeks and Espinoza giving the colt three brilliantly tactical rides, it is no wonder the 37-year Triple Crown drought is now officially over.

Betting odds and statistics via Equibase.

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