Belmont Stakes: American Pharoah Still Reigns Two Years Later

June 6, 2015. Two years ago today, an unassuming bay colt won the Belmont Stakes and became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. Displaying an impeccable stride and his signature pricked ears, American Pharaoh turned out to be the horse America was waiting for.

During the 1970’s, there was a revival of Triple Crown winners. First, Secretariat broke a 25-year drought in 1973, winning by a smashing 31 lengths in 2:24 flat. He still holds the fasted time and the largest margin of victory today. In 1977, Seattle Slew kept his undefeated record in tact as he crossed the wire four lengths in front. As if two Triple Crowns in the same decade weren’t enough, 1978 made it back-to-back wins. Racking up Grade 1 after Grade 1, Affirmed held on by head to win the Triple Crown over familiar rival Alydar.

In 1979, Spectacular Bid looked like he would follow in their footsteps. Like Secretariat, Seattle Slew, and Affirmed, he was a two-year-old champion with an undeniably impressive resume heading into the Kentucky Derby. He won the Run for the Roses and the Preakness Stakes, but finished third to Coastal in the Belmont.

And so America began to wait. A slew of talented horses went on to win the first two legs, just to fall short in the Belmont. In the 1980’s, it was Pleasant Colony, Alysheba, and Sunday Silence who failed to capture the third jewel. Their defeats were followed by Silver Charm, Real Quiet, and Charismatic in the ‘90’s.

Even the turn of the century was unforgiving. It started with War Emblem’s loss in 2002, followed by the “Gutsy Gelding” Funny Cide and America’s beloved Smarty Jones. In 2008, Big Brown was pulled up in the homestretch of the Belmont Stakes, and I’ll Have Another was scratched and retired a day before the 2012 edition.

In 2014 there was a new hope in California Chrome. The striking chestnut colt, with four white socks and a big blaze, rose from a humble background to racing’s biggest stage. This California-bred showed the world that racing wasn’t just for the rich. Anyone could play this game, and win big if they were lucky enough. But California Chrome was not the horse we were waiting for. Disheartened, America continued to lie in wait.

Two months after California Chrome’s Belmont loss, a plain, bay two-year-old made his debut at Del Mar. Trained by Bob Baffert, this Zayat Stables homebred by Pioneerof the Nile finished fifth, beaten 9 ¼ lengths. It seems unrealistic to expect a one-time starter who finished fifth to compete with Grade 1 company next out, but that’s exactly what the connections of this horse did.

This wasn’t just any horse they were taking a chance with though. This was American Pharoah.

Jockey Victor Espinoza was teamed up with American Pharoah for the first time in the Del Mar Futurity. The pair led throughout and won by 4 ¾ lengths, beating horses that had finished ahead of American Pharoah in his first race. To standout even further amidst rising two-year-olds, American Pharaoh earned a second Grade 1 win by 3 ¼ lengths in the FrontRunner, also in gate-to-wire fashion. A foot bruise kept him out of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, but his two Grade 1 victories were still enough to win the Eclipse award for Champion Two-Year-Old Colt.

As the three-year-olds began to make their 2015 debuts ahead of the Kentucky Derby, there was always talk of American Pharoah. Fans had to wait until March to see the colt back in action, and he didn’t disappoint. American Pharoah proved he was just as good over a sloppy track as he was a fast track, drawing off to win by 6 ¼ lengths. He came back in the Arkansas Derby, silenced doubters who said he couldn’t rate, and increased his winning margin to eight.

The Kentucky Derby proved to be his biggest challenge yet. Travelling in third behind Dortmund, his stablemate, and Firing Line, American Pharoah had to dig in deep to win. Dortmund held for third over Frosted, but it took more effort to wear down a stubborn Firing Line by a length. The fight didn’t take anything out of him though. Two weeks later, American Pharoah took the lead on a sloppy track at Pimlico and won by seven lengths. America was back on its toes, and another Triple Crown was in play.

It had been 37 years since Affirmed won the last Triple Crown. Racing fans who had been around since the ‘70’s wondered if they would ever see a Triple Crown again, and the younger generations thought they may never get to witness something so great. On Saturday, June 6, 2015, a historical Belmont Stakes unfolded.

American Pharoah and Espinoza grabbed the lead at the break, and the country held its breath. The horse seemed unbeatable, but so did other great racehorses who missed the Triple Crown. As the field turned for home, American Pharaoh was still in front, but Frosted was gaining. The crowd’s volume grew louder and louder. With every improving step Frosted took, American Pharoah found yet another gear, lengthened his stride, and pricked his ears. He was two lengths in front, then three, and by the time he crossed the wire, Frosted was 5 ½ lengths behind him.

“The 37-year wait is over,” exclaimed announcer Larry Collmus. “American Pharoah is finally the one. American Pharoah has won the Triple Crown!”

The cameras at Belmont Park showed a crowd with hands in the air, strangers celebrating together, and joyous shouts ringing out. All around the country there were tears, hugs, high fives, and an unshakable sense that we had just witnessed something great.

Even without a Triple Crown on the line, the Belmont still attracts some of the best up-and-coming horses in the country, and is starting to receive more international competitors. Both this year and last, hopes of a Triple Crown were dashed in the Preakness. This doesn’t diminish the talents of horses that fall short in the Triple Crown, but it does remind us that what American Pharoah accomplished is not an easy task, and we should be grateful for witnessing something as special as him.

By Christine Oser