Triple Crown 2015: Key Moments in American Pharoah's Trio of Historic Wins
It’s taken 37 years, but thoroughbred racing has a new Triple Crown winner after American Pharoah soared to glory in the Belmont Stakes.
As evidenced by the drought of horses capable of winning the three most prestigious chases in the sport, so much can go wrong when going in search of the box set of titles. But Bob Baffert’s extraordinary colt conquered all before him with a trio of contrasting, but stunning displays at Churchill Downs, Pimlico and Belmont Park.
Bleacher Report’s horse racing expert Jessica Paquette ran the rule over this incredible champion:
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Here’s a recap of some of the key moments that helped American Pharoah and Victor Espinoza cement their status as legends of racing.
Late Surge in Kentucky
The closest this majestic horse came to defeat was in Kentucky. Going into the final furlong, Espinoza had Firing Line and Dortmund to contend with, but the experienced jockey guided the favourite home brilliantly, timing his surge to perfection.
As noted by horse racing expert James Hritz, there was a clear gulf in class between the new Triple Crown champion and the rest of the field:
Of course, getting over the line first at Kentucky gave Baffert’s crown jewel the chance to make history too.
It was a run of caution from Espinoza, as he opted to steer Pharoah round conservatively before making a late push. But the confidence he will have gained from the finishing flourish surely paved the way for two dominant performances at the Preakness and Belmont.
Overcoming Poor Preakness Conditions
This was the race that really stirred the Triple Crown hype. Admittedly, this wasn’t too strong a field for American Pharoah to contend with—Dortmund and Firing Line aside—but the heavy rain turned the Pimlico track into something resembling a bog.
Often these kinds of undesirable conditions can act as a leveller, but for American Pharoah, it was a chance to assert his quality. While the rest of the field really toiled in the final furlongs on heavy ground, with Espinoza in the saddle, the Kentucky Derby champion coasted home by a whopping seven lengths.
As noted by Andrew Gross of The Record, it was a comprehensive display that set the tone for the final leg of the Triple Crown tilt:
Another key trait we saw in the Preakness win was this horse’s incredible durability. Sure finishing fast at Churchill Downs was impressive, but to come from the rail, battle into a position and race away from the field in the home stretch suggested that American Pharoah had what it takes to go the distance at Belmont Park too.
Flawless Performance at Belmont
Knowing this horse could come late, battle and lead from the front, it was obvious Espinoza had an immense amount of confidence in him from the very early stages in the Belmont Stakes.
Here’s a reminder of how imperious American Pharoah and his jockey were in such a vital chase:
It’s not often you see a horse lead for the entire race. But this was the ultimate indicator of just how special this colt is. He glided around Belmont’s sweeping corners, keeping a sizable chasing pack at arm's length, before turning on the style in the home straight.
As noted by commentator Larry Collmus, it was a unique sporting moment:
For 37 years, we’ve waited for a horse this special to win all three. After the Kentucky Derby, there were plenty who thought American Pharoah had a brilliant chance, but even those who were of that mindset couldn’t have anticipated that the colt would win the Preakness and Belmont so confidently.
It proves just how remarkable American Pharoah’s achievement is and how unlikely it is we'll see another horse win the Triple Crown with such panache. Nonetheless, here’s hoping it won’t be 37 years until we see this iconic piece of sporting history again.
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