Sunday, June 7, 2015

Awesome #AmericanPharoah Wins Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown!

That was something else.

At LAT, "American Pharoah wins the Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown":


The wait is over. History has been made. The sporting world has its newest hero.

On a near-perfect Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., American Pharoah became the first winner of horse racing’s Triple Crown in 37 years. He now takes his place as racing royalty by becoming the 12th horse to win this three-race series.

The 3-year-old colt was spectacular in winning the grueling 1 1/2-mile race. American Pharoah’s quest started five weeks ago when he won the Kentucky Derby and followed that up two weeks later by winning the Preakness Stakes.

American Pharoah broke slowly but went immediately to the lead and held about a 3/4-length advantage over Materiality through the backstretch and into the final turn.

The race was very moderately paced, meaning that the front-running style of American Pharoah might hold up.

It more than did that.

As American Pharoah entered the home stretch, he had about a length on the late-charging Frosted and wasn’t giving up any ground. With 1/8 of a mile to go he widened his lead and pulled away from the field for an uncontested and unquestioned victory. His winning margin was 5 1/2 lengths.

“I think it's is owed to the fans of New York who kept showing up, paying their money and hoping,” trainer Bob Baffert said of the Triple Crown. “I still cant believe it happened and I’m just blessed with a super 3-year-old by the name of American Pharoah. I couldn’t be happier.”

Jockey Victor Espinoza talked about how confident he was in American Pharoah before slipping into some numerology.

“Twelfth Triple Crown,” Espinoza said. “I have 12 brothers and sisters: 12-12.”

American Pharoah paid $3.50, $2.80 and $2.50. Frosted finished second and returned $3.50 and $2.90. Keen Ice was third paying $4.60.

Baffert and Espinzoa, who both make Southern California their home, are now in the rarified air of being the only active people in their professions to have won a Triple Crown.

This was the fourth time that Baffert had found himself going for a Triple Crown. Earlier attempts with Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002) all came up short. It was Espinoza’s third time going for the Triple Crown. He was the jockey for War Emblem and last year with California Chrome.

The win is a much-needed boost to horse racing, which has been in decline for many years. Recent movies have been made about two horses, Seabiscuit and Secretariat, that have rekindled America’s love affair with the horse.

But those horses are so long gone and no equine superstar has stepped up to take their place.

Now there is one...
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