The drought is over! American Pharoah is horse racing’s first Triple Crown winner in 37 years after winning Saturday’s 147th running of the Belmont Stakes. What a feat by this beautiful three-year-old colt who went nose-to-nose in the pack and then pulled away down the stretch to become just the 12th Triple Crown winner in history. American Pharoah was a 3-to-5 favorite to win the Belmont Stakes adding to his earlier wins this year at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. He is the first horse to win all three races in the same year since Affirmed did it back in 1978. The champion’s trainer Bob Baffert entered Saturday’s race 0-for-3 in the Belmont when winning the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Jockey Victor Espinoza had also lost both of his previous bids for the elusive honor. But Espinoza rode a legendary “once in a lifetime” horse on a legendary ride into the history books, becoming a duo of legend. American Pharoah now joins other horse racing royalty, such as Secretariat, in the small circle of Triple Crown winners. Twelve horses, since Affirmed, won the first two legs of the Triple Crown building hopes, only to fall short at the oftentimes dream-crushing Belmont. For those who may have wagered on Saturday’s race, Frosted crossed the line second and Keen Ice finished third.
Check out American Pharoah running to victory:
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