American Pharoah claims first Triple Crown since 1978

Story by ESPN

NEW YORK -- At long last, the Triple Crown drought has ended.

American Pharoah led all the way to win the Belmont Stakes by 5½ lengths Saturday, becoming the first horse in 37 years to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes -- one of the sporting world's rarest feats.

The bay colt with the unusually short tail defeated seven rivals in the grueling 1½-mile race, leading wire-to-wire and covering the distance in 2:26.65 to end the longest stretch without a Triple Crown champion in history.

"We need stars," said Ahmed Zayat, American Pharoah's owner. "I'm so thrilled, honored, privileged and humbled."

American Pharoah is the 12th horse and first since Affirmed in 1978 to win three races on different tracks at varying distances over a five-week span. He won the Kentucky Derby by one length on May 2 and romped to a seven-length victory in the rainy Preakness two weeks later. He is the fourth Triple Crown winner to go wire-to-wire in the Preakness and the Belmont.

Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Victor Espinoza ended their own frustrating histories in the Triple Crown. Baffert finally won on his record fourth Triple try, having lost in 1997, 1998 (by a nose) and 2002.

"I still can't believe it happened," Baffert said. "I couldn't be any happier."

Espinoza, the first Hispanic jockey to win the Triple Crown, got it done with his record third shot after failing to win in 2002 and last year on California Chrome.

"I come here with a lot of confidence -- more confidence than anywhere," Espinoza said. "This time, I had so much confidence in American Pharoah.

"That trophy caused me a lot of stress. But the third time is the charm."

Frosted finished second and Keen Ice third.

ESPN Stats & Information and The Associated Press contributed to this report.