Bay colt American Pharoah placed 1st in the 147th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6. He is the first thoroughbred racing horse to win the Triple Crown since 1978. The Belmont Stakes is a 1 ½ mile (12 furlong) race. American Pharoah passed "the Test of the Champion."
Three pre-game analysts at The Sports Show discussed the chances of American Pharoah winning Triple Crown and none of them believed that he was capable of it. They cited dates, facts, and statistics whilst maintaining a jaded attitude towards the possibility of a Triple Crown winner on Saturday. "The odds say no," stated the analysts. Offshore Bookmakers said that the contender had a 60% chance.
"I feel so good,"said jockey Victor Espinoza. "I say, 'I hope American Pharoah feels like me."
It was American Pharoah's third race in 6 ½ weeks. He ran through the mud at the Preakness, proving the speed and endurance of a thoroughbred horse. 11 horses before him have all won the Preakness and the Kentucky Derby only to lose at the Belmont Stakes. The Sports Show said that "horses just don't race this long," comparing horses to human runners. Well, American Pharoah proved the experts wrong by finishing the race in 2:26.65
American Pharoah's trainor Bob Baffert and his owner's son Justin Zayat both expressed that they "can't believe it happened." The horse is owned by Egyptian Ahmed Zayat of Zayat Studios.
At Belmont Stakes, the winner led the way since the "sweeping first turn" he made. He was smart to keep closest to the left side all throughout the race. American Pharoah kept a two-length reach as everyone came to the stretch.
"And here it is! The 37 year wait is over! American Pharoah is finally the one! American Pharoah has won the Triple Crown!" exclaimed the announcer.
The bay colt defeated seven horses in a long stretch run. He proved his talent at the Kentucky Derby on May 2 and his endurance in the rain at the Preakness. Frosted placed 2nd, Keen Ice placed 3rd, Mubtaahij placed 4th, Frammento placed 5th, Madefromlucky placed 6th, Tale of Verve placed 7th, and Materiality placed last.
American Pharoah is a Triple Crown winner amongst the ranks of Sir Barton, Gallant Fox, Omaha, War Admiral, Whirlaway, Count Fleet, Assault, Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed. His name was placed high amongst his predecessors in silks in the infield. The crowds and the announcer could not contain their ecstatic joy. Perhaps he will have movies and books about him telling his story about how he made history by ending over three decades of drought.
American Pharoah's name came from a online contest submission. It was not noticed that his name was misspelled until it was already officially registered. His signature short tail is the result of an accident when he was a young colt. It was bitten off at a farm. He is 3 years old.
The Belmont Stakes is an annual thoroughbred horse race that occurs at the beginning of June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. The race is held on a left-handed dirt track. The record holder for the Belmont Stakes is celebrity horse Secretariat. The race was inaugurated in 1867. The purse is $1.5 million. The first place winner receives $800K.
