American Pharoah can reign forever with win in Belmont - SFGate
This is the fourth time trainer Bob Baffert has been there, the third time jockey Victor Espinoza has been there and the second time they have been there together. On Saturday at Belmont Park, their horse, American Pharoah, will try to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. Thirteen horses have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness over the past 36 years. Baffert won the first two jewels of the Triple Crown with Silver Charm in 1997, Real Quiet in 1998 and War Emblem in 2002. Espinoza did it with War Emblem and California Chrome in 2014. “I never thought I’d get another chance like this,” Baffert... “To be going through it again with a horse like this is a ‘wow’ moment every time I think about it. To be doing it a fourth time, it’s like I’m blessed with what’s happening here. Silver Charm and Real Quiet finished second in the Belmont, the former losing by three-quarters of a length to Touch Gold and the latter by a nose to Victory Gallop. The front-running War Emblem broke badly in the Belmont, was taken totally out of his style and finished eighth. California Chrome finished in a dead-heat for fourth after being stuck uncomfortably inside for much of the race. American Pharoah has won all six starts since a loss in his debut and all but his one-length victory in the Kentucky Derby came by decisive margins, including seven lengths in the Preakness on a sloppy track that he relished. Source: www.sfgate.com
