The 37 year wait for a Triple Crown winner is over as Zayat Stables’ American Pharoah stamped his authority on Saturday’s Belmont Stakes with a near six lengths demolition.
Ridden by Victor Espinoza for trainer Bob Baffert, American Pharoah went straight to the front and as Espinoza gradually increased the pace his opponents retreated one by one until only Godolphin’s Frosted remained in contention rounding the home turn.
But Espinoza still had a handful of horse and when he let the rein out a notch, American Pharoah left Frosted in his wake as 90,000 fans at Belmont and millions around the world began to celebrate the 12th Triple Crown winner.
Having fallen at the final hurdle three times before with Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002), Bob Baffert looked to have the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders.
"We knew we had the horse and we were hoping we had the horse," Baffert told The Blood-Horse.
"Once Victor got him in the clear and got him in that beautiful mode of the way he just goes over the ground. Every fraction—I saw (1:13) and change and I just loved that, then 1:37. They turned for home and I was prepared for somebody coming, because I've gone through this so many times. I was just hoping, for once—I could tell by the eighth pole that it was going to happen.
"All I did was just take in the crowd. The crowd was just thundering and I was enjoying the call, and the crowd, and the noise—everything happening. Thirty-seven years—that little horse, he deserves it."
American Pharoah is a son of the Zayat owned Pioneer Of The Nile (Empire Maker) whose career came to an end when 11th in the Preakness Stakes after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby.
A $300,000 buy-back for Zayat at the 2013 Saratoga Yearling sale, American Pharoah is out of Littleprincessemma, a $250,000 yearling, who showed little ability in two starts.
A daughter of the Storm Cat stallion Yankee Gentlemen, Littleprincessemma is a half-sister to Grade II winner Storm Wolf (Stormin Fever) and Grade III winner and Grade 1 placed Misty Rosestte (Stormin Fever).
The winner of seven of his eight starts, American Pharoah is the third foal out of Littleprincessemma who foaled a brother to the Triple Crown winner earlier this year.
Coolmore have secured the breeding rights to American Pharoah, so there is a good chance we may see him in Australia.
Ridden by Victor Espinoza for trainer Bob Baffert, American Pharoah went straight to the front and as Espinoza gradually increased the pace his opponents retreated one by one until only Godolphin’s Frosted remained in contention rounding the home turn.
But Espinoza still had a handful of horse and when he let the rein out a notch, American Pharoah left Frosted in his wake as 90,000 fans at Belmont and millions around the world began to celebrate the 12th Triple Crown winner.
Having fallen at the final hurdle three times before with Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002), Bob Baffert looked to have the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders.
"We knew we had the horse and we were hoping we had the horse," Baffert told The Blood-Horse.
"Once Victor got him in the clear and got him in that beautiful mode of the way he just goes over the ground. Every fraction—I saw (1:13) and change and I just loved that, then 1:37. They turned for home and I was prepared for somebody coming, because I've gone through this so many times. I was just hoping, for once—I could tell by the eighth pole that it was going to happen.
"All I did was just take in the crowd. The crowd was just thundering and I was enjoying the call, and the crowd, and the noise—everything happening. Thirty-seven years—that little horse, he deserves it."
American Pharoah is a son of the Zayat owned Pioneer Of The Nile (Empire Maker) whose career came to an end when 11th in the Preakness Stakes after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby.
A $300,000 buy-back for Zayat at the 2013 Saratoga Yearling sale, American Pharoah is out of Littleprincessemma, a $250,000 yearling, who showed little ability in two starts.
A daughter of the Storm Cat stallion Yankee Gentlemen, Littleprincessemma is a half-sister to Grade II winner Storm Wolf (Stormin Fever) and Grade III winner and Grade 1 placed Misty Rosestte (Stormin Fever).
The winner of seven of his eight starts, American Pharoah is the third foal out of Littleprincessemma who foaled a brother to the Triple Crown winner earlier this year.
Coolmore have secured the breeding rights to American Pharoah, so there is a good chance we may see him in Australia.