American Pharoah wins fabled Triple Crown
One of the longest dry spells in sporting history, and we are not talking about the Chicago Cubs and the World Series, is over as American Pharoah won the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown. It is the first time in 37 years a horse has earned all three jewels. American Pharoah joins Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed as one of 12 Triple Crown winners in the history of thoroughbred racing.
- American Pharoah #5, ridden by Victor Espinoza, comes out of the paddock during the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
- American Pharoah #5, ridden by Victor Espinoza, comes out of the paddock during the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
- American Pharoah #5, ridden by Victor Espinoza, comes out of the paddock during the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
- American Pharoah #5, ridden by Victor Espinoza, is led to the starting gate during the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
- The field leaves the starting gate at the beginning of the 147th running of th0e Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
- American Pharoah #5, ridden by Victor Espinoza, during the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
- American Pharoah #5, ridden by Victor Espinoza, leads the pack during the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the win American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
- American Pharoah #5, ridden by Victor Espinoza, leads the pack during the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the win American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
- American Pharoah (5), far right, leads Materiality (8) and the rest of the field down the back stretch on the way to a Triple Crown victory during the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Belmont Park, Saturday, June 6, 2015, in Elmont, N.Y. (Jason DeCrow/Associated Press)
- American Pharoah, with Victor Espinoza up, rounds the fourth turn at the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race Saturday, June 6, 2015, in Elmont, N.Y. Kentucky Derby and Preakness is the first winner of the Triple Crown win since Affirmed won it in 1978. (Frank Franklin II/Associated Press)
- American Pharoah #5, ridden by Victor Espinoza, leads the field out of the fourth turn during the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. (Elsa/Getty Images)
- American Pharoah (5), far right, leads the field entering turn three on the way to a Triple Crown victory during the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Belmont Park, Saturday, June 6, 2015, in Elmont, N.Y. (Jason DeCrow/Associated Press)
- American Pharoah #5, ridden by Victor Espinoza, during the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
- American Pharoah (5) with Victor Espinoza up leads the pack as he approaches the finish line during the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Belmont Park, Saturday, June 6, 2015, in Elmont, N.Y. American Pharoah won to be the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed did it in 1978. (Julio Cortez/Associated Press)
- Victor Espinoza, celebrates atop American Pharoah #5, after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the wins American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Elsa/Getty Images)
- American Pharoah (5) with Victor Espinoza up crosses the finish line to win the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Belmont Park, Saturday, June 6, 2015, in Elmont, N.Y. American Pharoah is the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed won it in 1978. (Seth Wenig/Associated Press
- American Pharoah #5, ridden by Victor Espinoza, comes down the final stretch ahead of the field on his way to winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
- American Pharoah #5, ridden by Victor Espinoza, crosses the finish line to win the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
- Victor Espinoza, celebrates atop American Pharoah #5, after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the wins American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Travis Lindquist/Getty Images)
- Victor Espinoza, celebrates atop American Pharoah #5, after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the wins American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
- Victor Espinoza, celebrates atop American Pharoah #5, after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. With the wins American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
- Victor Espinoza, celebrates atop American Pharoah #5, after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. With the wins American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
- Victor Espinoza, celebrates atop American Pharoah #5, after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the wins American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
- Victor Espinoza, celebrates atop American Pharoah #5, after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the wins American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
- Victor Espinoza, celebrates atop American Pharoah #5, after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the wins American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
- Victor Espinoza, celebrates atop American Pharoah #5, in the winner’s circle after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the wins American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
- Victor Espinoza, celebrates atop American Pharoah #5, in the winner’s circle after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the wins American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
- Victor Espinoza reacts to the crowd after guiding American Pharoah to win the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes horse race at Belmont Park, Saturday, June 6, 2015, in Elmont, N.Y. American Pharoah is the first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed won it in 1978. (Julio Cortez/Associated Press)
- American Pharoah #5 is seen after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the wins American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
- American Pharoah #5 is brought into the winners circle after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the wins American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
- Victor Espinoza (L), jockey of American Pharoah #5, owner of Ahmed Zayat, and trainer Bob Baffert (R), celebrate with the Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown Trophies after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the wins American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years (Elsa/Getty Images)
- Ahmed Zayat, owner of American Pharoah #5, celebrates with the Triple Crown Trophy after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 6, 2015 in Elmont, New York. With the win, American Pharoah becomes the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 37 years. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The tireless horse went wire-to-wire in the long and grueling Belmont Stakes, which has stopped Triple Crown contenders cold as fresh horses entered the fields, but pulled away from the field in the stretch.
In winning by 5 1/2 lengths, Amerian Pharoah paid $3.50 to win, $2.80 and $2.50. Runner-up Frosted paid $3.50 and $2.90. Third-place finisher Keen Ice paid $4.60.