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The odds of winning the Triple Crown may be against American Pharoah, but the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, despite preparing for his third demanding start in just five weeks, appears destined for the history books when he faces seven others in the Belmont Stakes June 6 at Belmont Park in New York.
For a few minutes on Saturday, the NBA Finals and the NHL’s Stanley Cup won’t have anything on horse racing. With the eyes of the sports world focused squarely on him, American Pharoah will rise to the sport’s biggest challenge (three races at three different racetracks at three different distances in just five weeks) and add the final jewel of racing’s coveted series to his already impressive resume to become the first horse in 37 years to sweep the Triple Crown.
Granted, it’s no easy task. History tells us that. Since Florida-bred Affirmed last swept the elusive prize in 1978, 13 horses have started in the Belmont Stakes with an opportunity at a sweep. And 13 times they have lost, each time dashing the hopes of long-suffering racing fans hungry for a horse capable of capturing the Triple Crown.
If experience means anything this time around, American Pharoah is in good hands. His trainer and jockey are no strangers to success in Triple Crown races; they’ve both been here before.
Trainer Bob Baffert, the white-haired, Hall of Fame conditioner is making his fourth run at a Triple Crown. His first three all came up short: Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002) failed to win the Belmont after proving best in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
Real Quiet might have been the most heartbreaking for the California-based trainer. Real Quiet was in front one stride before the finish line and one jump after the wire, losing Triple Crown glory to Victory Gallop by a scant whisker.
American Pharoah’s jockey Victor Espinoza was War Emblem’s pilot and also partnered California Chrome, last year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, to a fourth-place finish in the 2014 Belmont Stakes.
Espinoza turned in a masterful ride aboard American Pharoah in the Preakness Stakes three weeks ago, gunning his mount to the lead and playing catch-me-if-you can. As a result, American Pharoah’s Preakness rivals only saw his backside from start to finish as he splashed his way to a resounding victory at a rain-soaked Pimlico Race Course in Maryland. American Pharoah has clearly proven that he is the best of this year’s crop of classic horses, and he has already defeated every entrant he will face in the Belmont Stakes.
After losing to American Pharoah in the Derby, Frosted, Materiality, Keen Ice, Frammento and Mubtahiij were held out of the Preakness by their connections. They all return to take a fresh shot at American Pharoah, the horse-of-the-moment.
Having the benefit of additional training time without a race in between is likely to make them more formidable opponents Saturday. For American Pharoah to beat his quality classmates again at the grueling distance of 1.5 miles and with a bulls-eye on his back will be a test in its own right, but the Zayat Stables-owned and bred son of Pioneerof the Nile possesses the rare talent to finish the job. Triple Crowns must be earned. If he defeats a field of fresher horses bent on spoiling his historic run, American Pharoah will have earned it, without question.
If there are spoilers lurking in the compact field of eight, it’s likely either Frosted or Materiality. Frosted finished a fast-closing fourth in the Derby after experiencing trouble early in the race. He has trained forwardly for the Belmont Stakes and must be considered a serious threat.
Materiality hesitated at the start of the Derby, leaving the previously undefeated Florida Derby winner too much ground to make up in the stretch. A belated rally carried him to a sixth-place finish that day. He is capable of better and he drew a nice post position outside of American Pharoah. With a clean break, he will set the early pace or pressure American Pharoah from the start.
Only 11 horses in history have swept the Triple Crown, including the legendary Secretariat. “Big Red” won the Belmont Stakes by an incredible 31 lengths in 1973 and will forever be the standard by which thoroughbreds are measured.
American Pharoah may not be the new standard for the breed, but if everything goes to plan on the racetrack in the Belmont Stakes, racing will have its first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed. It’s about time.
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