American Pharaoh is a legendary racehorse that made history by winning the coveted Triple Crown in 2015. This prestigious title is awarded to a horse that wins three major races: the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes, all in the same year. American Pharaoh's incredible feat captured the hearts of horse racing enthusiasts around the world.
What Makes American Pharaoh Special?
American Pharaoh's Triple Crown victory was a rare and remarkable achievement, as the last horse to win the Triple Crown before him was Affirmed in 1978. This 37-year gap between Triple Crown winners highlights the immense challenge of winning all three races in a single year. American Pharaoh's speed, stamina, and determination set him apart from his competitors, making him a true champion in the world of horse racing.
American Pharaoh was born February 2, 2012 was born with a fiery spirit and a drive to run. Bob Baffert described American Pharoah’s career debut at Del Mar in August 2014 as “a complete disaster.”
“It was a total mess. Everything that could have gone wrong absolutely did,” said Baffert, American Pharoah’s trainer and a 2009 Hall of Fame inductee. “He was acting up in the paddock and just never got comfortable in the environment around him. In the post parade, in the gate, same thing. He never relaxed and it all went sideways.”
American Pharoah finished fifth in his debut that day, well back of winner Om, who went on to become a multiple graded stakes winner. Baffert believed American Pharoah was unsettled by the crowd noise at Del Mar and quickly found a solution.
“We found out the issue was that he was sensitive to noise,” Baffert said, “so we took the blinkers off and put in earplugs and all the sudden we had a different horse. We’re talking about investing $6 for earplugs. It was like night and day the difference it made.”
Less than a year later, American Pharoah became the sport’s 12th Triple Crown winner, ending the 37-year wait that followed Affirmed’s sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes in 1977.
The Road to Victory
American Pharaoh's journey to the Triple Crown was not an easy one. He faced fierce competition in each of the three races, with top contenders vying for the same prestigious title. The Kentucky Derby, known as the "Run for the Roses," kicked off American Pharaoh's Triple Crown campaign, followed by the Preakness Stakes and the grueling Belmont Stakes. Despite the challenges, American Pharaoh's talent and tenacity shone through, propelling him to victory in each race.
Bred in Kentucky by owner Zayat Stables, American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile—Littleprincessemma, by Yankee Gentleman) broke his maiden in his second start, the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity, a little less than a month after his inauspicious debut. With Victor Espinoza taking over in the irons, American Pharoah drew off to win convincingly by 4¾ lengths.
“I knew right there he was a superior racehorse,” Baffert said of the Futurity. “We drew the one-hole and that concerned me, but the way he handled everything that day and the combination of power, speed, and effortlessness that he did it with really showed he was going to be elite.”
Legacy and Impact
American Pharaoh's Triple Crown win solidified his place in horse racing history. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of racehorses and fans alike. Winner of 9 races and almost $9,000,000 including the Breeders Cup Classic-Gr.1, Kentucky Derby-Gr.1, Preakness S.-Gr.1, Belmont S.-Gr.1, Haskell Invitational-Gr.1, Arkansas Derby-Gr.1, Del Mar Futurity-Gr.1 & FrontRunner S.-Gr.1.
The Triple Crown victory not only brought glory to American Pharaoh and his team but also reignited interest in the sport of horse racing. His remarkable achievement serves as a reminder of the power and beauty of these magnificent animals.
