Triple Crown Videos and Recap 2015

Triple Crown Videos and Recap 2015: In the last five weeks, America has seen something that it has not seen in thirty-seven years. American Pharoah not only handed the Zayat family their first Kentucky Derby win Saturday, May 2, 2015, at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, but also handed America its first Triple Crown in over three decades. The last horse to accomplish the same feat was Affirmed in 1978. The Belmont Stakes took place on Saturday, June 6, 2015, at Belmont Park in New York. American Pharoah was the heavy favorite going into the race, and following the race, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was the deserving favorite and winner. He has now secured his place in history with his accomplishment of the near impossible.

Before the Triple Crown even began, American Pharoah was as unknown as any other two-year-old. His debut was an unimpressive fifth-place finish in a maiden special weight at Del Mar in California. However, in his next start, the Grade I Del Mar Futurity, American Pharoah began a winning streak that has not yet been interrupted. After another Grade I win in the FrontRunner Stakes over the Santa Anita oval, American Pharoah was scratched from the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with a deep foot bruise. Instead, he was rested but was still able to be voted the 2014 Champion Two-Year-Old Colt. Making his three-year-old debut in the Grade II Rebel Stakes, the colt relished the slop and never looked back, annihilating a field that he would continue to play with four weeks later in the Grade I Arkansas Derby.

Entering the Kentucky Derby as the favorite, many doubted the colt’s ability to not only run the ten furlongs of the Derby but to also put up a fight if he was faced with one. Well, all the doubters were silenced when the son of Pioneerof the Nile not only defeated one of the best fields in recent memory of the Kentucky Derby but also fought for his win over Firing Line. American Pharoah was on to his next challenge in Baltimore, Maryland.

American Pharoah was a deserving favorite in the Preakness Stakes. Most Kentucky Derby winners enter the Preakness Stakes as the favorite, but this time, American Pharoah seemed to be almost impossible to beat. Many said he was a tired horse, but others knew this colt was special. After a massive downpour just moments before the start of the race, American Pharoah seemed happy to run in the mud, which he had already done easily once before in the Rebel Stakes. The other colts in the field did not seem to enjoy the rain and slop too much. Firing Line, considered by some to be American Pharoah’s biggest threat, went to his knees and never recovered, eventually being eased by Gary Stevens to finish out the race at a slow gallop. In the meantime, American Pharoah toyed with his competition once again, easily winning the Preakness Stakes by seven lengths.

American Pharoah was sent back to Churchill Downs to prepare for his Triple Crown bid. He was given a few days of rest and went from galloping to dazzling in his workouts. His two recorded works before the Belmont were a half-mile move in :48 flat and five panels in 1:00.20. This final work was dazzling enough to secure his spot as the most likely winner of the 2015 Belmont Stakes.

American Pharoah dazzled in his Belmont win as well. Going straight to the lead, he was able to relax into his long, leisurely stride to conserve his energy, which he would need to repel some brief challenges. However, Frosted, the only horse to even get close to American Pharoah at the later stages in the race, was only able to manage second, five lengths behind American Pharoah. American Pharoah was immediately added to the infield lineup of Triple Crown winners.

Now that the Triple Crown has come to a close, what is next for American Pharoah? His possible schedule includes the Haskell, Travers, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic before retiring to stud duty at Ashford Stud in Kentucky. Whether or not American Pharoah can accomplish more graded stakes wins is yet to be seen, but as of now, American Pharoah is not only the best three-year-old colt in training, he is the best horse in the country.