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American Pharoah Earns Triple Crown

‘We all wait for that one super-horse, and I think this is him’

by
Jonathan Zalman
June 08, 2015
 Ahmed Zayat and American Pharoah in Elmont, New York, June 5, 2015. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Ahmed Zayat and American Pharoah in Elmont, New York, June 5, 2015. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

In just his eighth start, American Pharoah made history Saturday evening by winning the 147th running of Belmont Stakes to become only the 12th Triple Crown winner in history, and the first since Affirmed in 1978. After 37 years, the Triple Crown trophy, “which had been on moth balls,” said announcer Bob Costas, was dusted off and handed to American Pharoah’s owner, Ahmed Zayat.

“With gratitude to God and humbleness,” said Zayat, who is Jewish, “this is for the sport.”

Leading up to the race Zayat, had been scrutinized in the media (including coverage here on Tablet) regarding his business dealings in Egypt, where he is from, and in the U.S. (Notably, Zayat was cleared of some legal troubles before the race.) But Zayat was all smiles Saturday after his horse galloped to an easy, wire-to-wire victory, pulling away in the stretch for a 5.5-length victory. American Pharoah ran the Belmont course faster than any other Triple Crown winner other than Secretariat, including the sixth-fastest time overall at a distance of 1.5 miles.

Before the race, it was all horns and pomp and circumstance, sponsored by, among others, Monster energy drinks. Yankees legend Joe Torre announced the jockeys as they saddled up atop their horses, including American Pharoah’s jockey Victor Espinoza. Espinoza twice had raced Triple Crown before Saturday’s race, including last year with California Chrome, but was he unsuccessful in both. But guiding American Pharoah, Espinoza wouldn’t be denied. It was also a breakthrough for trainer Bob Baffert, who finally secured a Triple Crown win after three previous tries.

After the race Espizona, who “grew up on a goat farm outside Mexico City,” announced an NBC broadcaster, decided to donate some of his winnings to charity, along with Baffert.

This morning, Baffert, Espinoza, and Zayat (with his wife and son, Justin, who recently graduated from NYU) appeared on The Today Show.

“You have to be way better to get it done,” said Baffert of American Pharoah winning the Triple Crown. “And that’s what this horse is—he was superior… We all wait for that one super-horse, and I think this is him.”

“It was an unbelievably magical moment,” said Zayat.

Watch Saturday’s race below:

Watch the Zayats, Baffert and Espizona on The Today Show:

Jonathan Zalman is a writer and teacher based in Brooklyn.