American Pharoah emerged victorious from the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, becoming the first horse since 1978 to win the Triple Crown.
As the only horse in the eight-contender Belmont field to have competed in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, it was always going to be difficult for Pharoah to emerge as the 12th Triple Crown-winner of all-time, reversing a trend of failure at the zenith of the equestrian world that has existed since Affirmed came out on top in the trifecta of top horse races in '78.
Pharoah and jockey Victor Espinoza, running fifth in the 147th Belmont Stakes - the longest of the three Triple Crown races - on Saturday, took the top spot at Belmont and proved that the Triple Crown remains possible, despite decades of great horses like California Chrome falling just short.
A field that included Materiality, Carpe Diem and Frosted were no match for Pharoah's clean open and finishing speed.
