Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes 2015 Wrap
The crowd at Belmont Park celebrates. Credit: Chelsea Durand/NYRA
The Triple Crown winner isn’t sticking around — New York, at least. American Pharoah met the media, charmed the “TODAY” show audience, and boarded a van leaving Belmont Park around 7:30 AM, arriving back at Churchill Downs by 1:30 PM, less than 19 hours after he won the Belmont Stakes and became the 12th Triple Crown winner in American racing, the first in 37 years.
The first in 37 years.
Like a lot of horse racing fans, I don’t remember the last one. I’m not quite sure what to do with this one. He’s marvelous! It’s wonderful! The minutes before the race were nerve-wracking, the seconds it took him to cross the wire — 5 1/2 lengths ahead of runner-up Frosted — thrilling.
There is satisfaction in discovering that a Triple Crown is still possible.
“After seeing what we saw on Saturday,” writes Jason Gay, “can we all agree that stubborn old horse racing had this the right way all along?”
The Triple Crown just needed a racehorse who could take one of the hardest things we ask a young horse to do and make it look easy.
American Pharoah completed the 1 1/2-mile race in 2:26.65, and he did it by going to the lead and reeling off steady :24 quarters, running the first half in :48.31, the first six furlongs in 1:13.41, and the first mile in 1:37.99:
DRF incremental times above. View the official Equibase chart (PDF).
He was never pushed, never threatened. Materiality, tasked with keeping the 3-5 favorite honest on the front, was out of contention before the mile. Frosted looked like a challenger at the top of the stretch — for a stride. American Pharoah gave him no ground. He was going to get away with it all.
“I’m telling you,” said jockey Victor Espinoza afterwards, “in the first turn it was the best feeling I’ve ever had.” Watch the replay:
The 12th Triple Crown winner was given a Beyer speed figure of 105 for the Belmont Stakes. TimeformUS gave him a speed figure of 128. His figures are as consistent as his fractions — American Pharoah’s Preakness and Kentucky Derby Beyers were 102 and 105, his TFUS numbers 125 and 127.
Trainer Bob Baffert reported on Sunday morning that American Pharoah came out of the Belmont in good shape. “Looking at the horse today, he looked pretty darn good for a horse that just ran a mile and a half,” said Baffert. “He’s a tough horse. Today he looked like he could run back in three weeks.”
Per the NYRA press office notes, the plan is for the colt to race again:
“After we freshen him up, we have options,” said Baffert, who mentioned the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth, the Grade 2 Jim Dandy and the Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga Race Course, and a “little race” at Del Mar, most likely the Grade 1 Pacific Classic.
Jay Privman explains why he believes the Pacific Classic is likely: “it would certainly be an endorsement by Zayat of the return to dirt at Del Mar to run there this summer, and there’s no bigger ‘get’ right now than American Pharoah, who — remember — hasn’t raced in California this year. Yet.”
The Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland is the goal for his final career start.
Recaps! Tim Layden recounts the Belmont Stakes and the weeks before, when the word chingon became code for the confidence of the American Pharoah camp … Joe Drape captures the moment the Triple Crown became real to the 90,000 at Belmont Park … Brendan Prunty writes about the build-up.
More recaps and reactions are bookmarked on this page; I’ll be adding to it.
Belmont Stakes Day 2015
There’s only one question today: Can American Pharoah win the Triple Crown?
The numbers are in his favor, Gary West writes:
The 11 Triple Crown winners emerged from crops that averaged 10,922 foals. The 13 horses since 1978 whose bids failed in New York came from crops that averaged 36,418 foals, and among so many, nobody’s talent was so superior that he could overcome circumstances and vicissitudes, as well as rivals. In 1970, on the other hand, 24,361 racehorses were foaled, and one of them was Secretariat. In 1974, Seattle Slew was in a crop of 27,586; and in 1975, Affirmed in a crop of 28,271.
Steve Haskin says he fits the profile of a Triple Crown winner.
Jon White has 10 reasons he will win (and five concerns).
Seven are lining up against American Pharoah in the Belmont Stakes gate. If he wins, he’ll have defeated 31 challengers, one fewer than War Admiral in 1937.
Picks for the Belmont Stakes card are up on Hello Race Fans.
House Rule
Relevant Belmont Stakes-eve information on whip use via the New York Times:
In New York, the state issues a fine or penalty for excessive use of the whip. But since 2010, racing stewards have also enforced a house rule of no more than five strikes in succession, with a pause of two or three strides to see if the horse responds.
When a rider violates the rule, one of the tan wall phones in the jockeys’ locker room will ring, Dr. Hill said, and the call will go out: “Movies for Jockey A tomorrow” — meaning a violation was caught on film, and the jockey will be given a $500 fine that will go to a track-related charity.
Retired jockey and NYRA analyst Richard Migliore says he’d like to see a whip rule that goes beyond the soon-to-be implemented California guidelines: “one strike of the whip, then wait a few strides to see if the horse responds.”
Plainly Said
I love the Met Mile (G1) and hate that it is run on the Belmont Stakes undercard. It is a race worthy of its own big stage and should not share it with anyone.
Seconding the sentiment. It pains me to see a race as significant and historic as the Met Mile crammed into a bloated Belmont Stakes “Big Day” card between the Just a Game and the Manhattan Stakes. Restore it to Memorial Day!
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Jessica Chapel writes and edits in Massachusetts. Railbird is a Thoroughbred horse racing blog published from June 2004 to July 2019. More / Contact
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