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Unbeatable: American Pharoah Romps in First Race Since Triple Crown

Over 60,000 attended Sunday’s Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in New Jersey

by
Jonathan Zalman
August 03, 2015
Adam Hunger/Getty Images
Victor Espinoza, atop American Pharoah (#4), reacts after winning the 48th William Hill Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in Monmouth, New Jersey, August 2, 2015. Adam Hunger/Getty Images
Adam Hunger/Getty Images
Victor Espinoza, atop American Pharoah (#4), reacts after winning the 48th William Hill Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park in Monmouth, New Jersey, August 2, 2015. Adam Hunger/Getty Images

“It was pretty easy,” said jockey Victor Espinoza of American Pharoah’s gallop to victory at Sunday’s Haskell Invitational in New Jersey. “He did everything by himself.”

Of course, American Pharoah’s special strengths are no mystery to oddsmakers, who set the odds for the first Triple Crown-winning horse in 37 years at 1-10, “the shortest price winner in Haskell history,” reported ESPN, “returning $2.20 for a $2 win bet.” And neither are horse racing fans, who came out in record numbers to Monmouth Park where they watched American Pharoah take the blocks as Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” blared over the speakers. Reported Steven Falk of the Asbury Park Press:

American Pharoah grabbed the lead midway on the far turn of the 1 1/8 mile race while hardly being asked by jockey Victor Espinoza. He zoomed well clear in the blink of an eye and then was totally geared down by Espinoza and recorded a dominating 2 1/4-length victory. One got the feeling American Pharoah could have won by the length of the stretch and shattered the track record of 1:46.4 if that’s what Espinoza wanted him to do. The final time was 1:47.4.



What American Pharoah does is effortless and breathtaking. One would almost gets the feeling they are watching Pegasus when they are watching him run.

Also there was New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who was reportedly booed; later he stood with American Pharoah’s owner, Ahmed Zayat, who was asked what’s next for his colt, e.g. will he run at Travers at Saratoga later this month?

“No clue,” Zayat said. “We’re going to enjoy this moment.”

Jonathan Zalman is a writer and teacher based in Brooklyn.