Preakness No Problem, American Pharoah Targets Triple Crown

American Pharoah was much the best in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. (All photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
By Tom Pedulla, America’s Best Racing
BALTIMORE – Can American Pharoah be the one?
Can he finally end the longest drought in Triple Crown history by becoming the 12th horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes and the first since Affirmed accomplished one of the greatest feats in sports in 1978?
American Pharoah’s smashing seven-length victory over Tale of Verve in the 140th Preakness Stakes on Saturday before a record crowd of 131,680 fans at Pimlico Race Course pointed to an obvious answer. Yes, he can!
“Great horses do great things,” said trainer Bob Baffert after his 2-year-old champion, a winner of six consecutive starts by a combined margin of 30 ¼ lengths, relished a track turned sloppy by thunderstorms that arrived shortly before post time.
Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza will go on to the Belmont Stakes on June 6 in a quest for racing immortality. This will be the fourth Triple Crown attempt for Baffert and the third for Espinoza, who traveled this difficult path with California Chrome last year only to finish in a dead heat for fourth in the 1 ½-mile “Test of a Champion.”
TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS

Year  
Horse
Owner
Jockey
Trainer

1978
Affirmed
Harbor View Farm
Steve Cauthen
Laz Barrera

1977
Seattle Slew
Karen Taylor
Jean Cruguet
Billy Turner

1973
Secretariat
Meadow Stable
Ron Turcotte
Lucien Lauren

1948
Citation
Calumet Farm
Eddie Arcaro
Jimmy Jones

1946
Assault
King Ranch
Warren Meehrtens
Max Hirsch

1943
Count Fleet
Mrs. John D. Hertz  
John Longden
Don Cameron

1941
Whirlaway
Calumet Farm
Eddie Arcaro
Ben Jones

1937
War Admiral
Samuel Riddle
Charlie Kurtsinger
George Conway

1935
Omaha
Belair Stud
William Saunders
James Fitzsimmons

1930
Gallant Fox
Belair Stud
Earle Sands
James Fitzsimmons

1919
Sir Barton
J.K.L. Ross
John Loftus
H. Guy Bedwell

“It seems like the third time is the lucky charm,” said Espinoza after American Pharoah carved out the most commanding margin since Smarty Jones’ 11 1/2-length romp in 2004.
Owner Ahmed Zayat, who heads Zayat Stables, was ecstatic for reasons beyond his interests.
“I was honestly happy for the sport. A sport without a star is not a sport,” he said. “Now, God willing, he comes out of this race well and we can be talking about history. How can I be happier than that?”
American Pharoah became the most recent of Baffert’s four Derby winners to add the middle jewel, following in the path of Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002). Baffert and Espinoza formed the trainer-jockey tandem with War Emblem, whose Belmont woes underscored why the sweep is so elusive. War Emblem stumbled at the start – and all hope was lost.
TRIPLE CROWN BIDS ENDED IN BELMONT 

Year  
Triple Crown hopeful  
 Belmont finish  
Winner

2014
California Chrome
4th
Tonalist

2008
Big Brown
DNF
Da’ Tara

2004
Smarty Jones
2nd
Birdstone

2003
Funny Cide
3rd
Empire Maker

2002
War Emblem
8th
Sarava

1999
Charismatic
3rd
Lemon Drop Kid

1998
Real Quiet
2nd
Victory Gallop

1997
Silver Charm
2nd
Touch Gold

1989
Sunday Silence
2nd
Easy Goer

1987
Alysheba
4th
Bet Twice

1981
Pleasant Colony
3rd
Summing

1979
Spectacular Bid
3rd
Coastal

1971
Canonero II
4th
Pass Catcher

1969
Majestic Prince
2nd
Arts and Letters

1968
#Forward Pass
2nd
Stage Door Johnny

1966
Kauai King
4th
Amberoid

1964
Northern Dancer
3rd
Quadrangle

1961
Carry Back
7th
Sherluck

1958
Tim Tam
2nd
Cavan

1944
Pensive
2nd
Bounding Home

1936
Bold Venture
did not start
Granville

1932
Burgoo King
did not start
Faireno

#Won Kentucky Derby via disqualification
Note: I'll Have Another was not included because he was retired before the Belmont Stakes. 
American Pharoah had his doubters after he drew the rail for the Preakness, but that turned into a non-issue for the son of Pioneerof the Nile. Espinoza shook his reins early and received a quick response as his mount repelled an early challenge from Mr. Z and set a daunting pace. He clicked off a brisk opening quarter of :22.90, went the half in :46.49 and the opening three-quarters in 1:11.42.
Baffert’s sixth Preakness victory tied him with rival D. Wayne Lukas for second all-time. Incredibly, Baffert reached half a dozen with only 17 starters; Lukas has sent 41 horses to the starting gate in this event. R.W. Walden, who rattled off an amazing seven Preakness victories from 1875-’88, is the leader with seven.
Baffert’s latest success at “Old Hilltop” was a relative laugher.
“Once he had him on the backside and he had him on the bit and his ears went up, I said, ‘Oh, yeah,’ ” the Hall of Fame trainer said.
After a workmanlike one-length win in the Derby, American Pharoah displayed the brilliance many thought was there as he broke away from the field around the final turn. He padded his margin with every powerful stride in completing the 1 3/16-mile contest in 1:58.46. He was heavily favored at 9-to-10 odds and returned $3.80 for a $2 win wager.
PREAKNESS SLIDESHOW

Tale of Verve performed remarkably well, considering that he required six starts to gain his first career victory and that breakthrough had come in the race before this one. His trainer, Dallas Stewart, could not have been more excited if he had won.
“He’s a tremendous horse. He’s getting better all the time,” he said. “Congratulations to the winner. We will see him at Belmont.”
Divining Rod, coming off a victory in the Grade 3 Coolmore Lexington Stakes, finished a length behind Tale of Verve in third. Dortmund, American Pharoah’s stablemate, added a fourth-place finish to his third-place showing in the Derby.
The remaining order of finish in the field of eight: Mr. Z, Danzig Moon, Firing Line and Bodhisattva. Although Firing Line went off as the second choice in the wagering after his runner-up effort in the Derby, he was doomed when he stumbled badly at the start.
“That took his momentum and he never really got hold of the track,” said Simon Callaghan, Firing Line’s trainer.
Espinoza’s issues were mild compared with that. “I could not really see how far he was in front because I had water in my eyes,” he said.
For an Equibase chartc, click here.
ESPINOZA REFLECTS ON 2015 PREAKNESS

2015 PREAKNESS STAKES REPLAY