AMERICAN PHAROAH WINS TRIPLE CROWN

Hello everybody!  It has been a long time since my last post, and I am happy to be back for an update, even if it is a little late.  But yesterday was a very special day in the history of sports.  On June 6, 2015, American Pharoah became the first horse in over 37 years to win the Triple Crown of U.S. Thoroughbred racing.  In order to accomplish this difficult task, a horse must win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.  The last horse to win this prize was Affirmed back in 1978.  Up until this year, only eleven horses (Sir Barton - 1919, Gallant Fox - 1930, Omaha - 1935, War Admiral - 1937, Whirlaway - 1941, Count Fleet - 1943, Assault - 1946, Citation - 1948, Secretariat - 1973, Seattle Slew - 1977, Affirmed - 1978) had won the Triple Crown.  As of yesterday, there are now twelve.  Congratulations to American Pharoah and its connections, including owner Ahmed Zayat, Trainer Bob Baffert, and Jockey Victor Espinoza.  For trainer Bob Baffert, American Pharoah was his fourth attempt to win the Triple Crown.  His last three tries (Silver Charm - 1997, Real Quiet - 1998, and War Emblem - 2002) won both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes but failed to win the Belmont Stakes.  Interestingly, War Emblem was also jockey Victor Espinoza's first attempt at a Triple Crown.  Espinoza had another try for a Triple Crown last year with California Chrome, but that horse finished fourth the Belmont Stakes.  With yesterday's victory in the Belmont Stakes, Victor Espinoza is the oldest jockey (age 43) as well as the first Hispanic jockey to win the Triple Crown.

American Pharoah won the Belmont Stakes by five-and-a-half lengths.  It is the third-largest margin of victory in that race for a Triple Crown winner.  Secretariat had the largest margin, 31.5 lengths, while Count Fleet back in 1943 won the Belmont by 25 lengths.  American Pharoah's final time for the 1 1/2 mile Belmont Stakes is 2 minutes 26.65 seconds.  By comparison, Secretariat's final time, and the current record for that distance, is 2 minutes 24 seconds.  An incredible horse.  As for American Pharoah's future, trainer Bob Baffert plans to run him the Breeders Cup Classic at Keeneland in October.  Other stops for American Pharoah this summer may include the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park and the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. 

Courtesy of Youtube, the Howell Report is pleased to provide video replays of all three 2015 Triple Crown Races. Telecasts were provided by NBC Sports and The New York Racing Association.

Kentucky Derby:

Preakness Stakes:

Belmont Stakes: