Belmont Stakes 2015

[caffeinated]

[QUOTE=Drvmb1ggl3;8181266]
Let’s not get carried away. Let’s see him beat older horses, and man is that a mouth watering prospect with some good ones still plying their trade this year. Such a pity Shared Belief is injured, but I can’t wait for the BC Classic at Keeneland this year, we could have something special on offer. Here’s hoping they all stay sound and show up at Lexington at the end of Oct.[/QUOTE]

Yes! I love the idea of him continuing on. Can you imagine this horse even more mature and strong? The idea gives me little spine tingles.

[2tempe]

I would love to see him run, just saying that if he were mine, I might quit while I’m way ahead.

[Callista17]

[QUOTE=kdow;8181182]
The fact that he didn’t either means he’s nuts, or that he knows what he’s in for and wants to go for it anyway and is probably a keeper. :D[/QUOTE]

Thank you very much! Actually, I had an “epiphany” on COTH . I was typing the first message on COTH, posting on FB, messaging w horsie friends, when he started talking, so I wrote that and realized what was happening. I set the phone down and listened. Then came back on COTH.:lol:

My exbf I dated for 13 years told me no one would put up with my horse…manure. I offered to sell THREE of my horses if I could keep one (I obviously would fully financially support it), he said no. He said a relationship is just two people, no dogs, cats, horses! I said I can’t.

Scott, is willing to put up with ALL of it! A.P. and I had a very good day! lol

[Mao]

Are you kidding me??? He just won the Triple Crown. Get over it. His breeding rights were already sold.

Please… just wallow in the moment! What he did was EPIC! Number 12!!!

[danceronice]

[QUOTE=Carolinadreamin’;8181096]
Creepy Burger King guy photo bombs Bob Baffert. http://www.sportingnews.com/sport/story/2015-06-06/burger-king-bob-baffert-american-pharoah-triple-crown-belmont-stakes[/QUOTE]

My dad wanted to know why I was going “KILL IT WITH FIRE” on that shot.

It wasn’t 31 lengths or a dug-in gutting it out against a rival…AP just…loafed! How does he do that? Even Secretariat looked like he was working. AP canters along, someone comes up, Victor asks for a little more go and he says “Sure, whatever.” The hardest I think I’ve seen him have to dig was in the Derby when he put Firing Line away. Even after running a mile and a half and being made to do a not-usual-for-him grand pass of the grandstand hes just like “Am I done? Whatever, I’m cool either way.” And all this with no blinkers, so you know he can see other horses coming and even with the cotton in his ears he knows there’s a massive throng of people. His name should have been “Unflappable.”

Do we get to see him run again, is what I’d like to know. I know they were saying BEFORE the race, yes (then unfortunately the percentage of stallion rights were sold with the agreement he’ll retire next year so no four-year-old season) yes, but I cannot imagine, knowing what I know now from a partnership side what insurance on even an ordinary graded stakes winner costs, let alone on the only living Triple Crown winner who still has his gonads. He’s pretty much priceless.

[skydy]

I have to say that was a privilege to watch. What a race. What a stunning horse.
Such a beautiful stride and such a regal countenance.

He is a true and deserving TC winner.

My troubles are forgotten today! It’s strange and wonderful, how horses can take a human’s cares away!

[danceronice]

@betonbill;8181122

Aren’t we all glad they didn’t cheapen the races by stretching them out and all the other proposals there were? There’s a reason it’s tough, and this was one impressive horse and one impressive race.

Well, one thing WAS different–TC-winning-year-sized field. No one in there who was a total “WHY IS HE ENTERED” just to crowd the gate. AP tied Citation and Slew for biggest TC-winning Belmont field sizes. Most have been very, very small.

They may shut up about the times (its not about fast, it’s about first), but I already saw “Best of a WEAK CROP…” If you played a drinking game every year for someone saying that you’d die of liver failure before you got to the Belmont.
Also…someone complained the Preakness time was slow? Um…did they SEE the track? I need to stop reading comments at the Blood-Horse, it’s just driving me to drink.

[BeHooved]

BTW, on other forums I’ve been reading about the terrible times for the other two races. Guess he showed them up.

I did see all of the triple crown races in the 70s. This horse deserves to be right alongside them.

I was one of the doubters. What I asked for was a competitive Belmont. I didn’t (don’t) think it’s unnatural to be doubtful when this has failed to materialize ~23 other times and each year the Belmont is sensationalized beyond belief. It’s the kind of rhetoric that is spouted above that makes people defensive - we’re all supposed to be on the same side as racing fans and horse lovers.

That said, I am of course glad AP pulled through and ran his heart out and I can relinquish my doubts! I would love to see him continue with his racing career and not be retired.

[JGHIRETIRE]

[QUOTE=Callista17;8181059]
Yes. Lol I know, I calmed down a little, now just have a huge smile on my face. This was a very memorable day. (I even overlooked the “I’m glad it won, sweetie”) IT?!?! IT?!??! Letting friends and family know, so he doesn’t know I’m on COTH too.:-)[/QUOTE]

ROFLMAO!!!

[BasqueMom]

Another how wonderful! Big 70 is coming up and was beginning to think I wouldn’t be seeing another TC winner.

[PeteyPie]

I thought it was a slow race because he was running so easily. In fact, it was fast. He made it look so effortless.

Only a few horses have run faster in the Belmont Stakes since the distance of 12 furlongs was set in 1926 (did I miss any?):

2015 American Pharoah 2:26.65

2001 Point Given 2:26.56
1992 A.P. Indy 2:26.13
1989 Easy Goer 2:26.00
1988 Risen Star 2:26.40
1973 Secretariat 2:24.00
1957 Gallant Man 2:26.60

Of the horses who have won the Triple Crown since 1926, he finished second fastest.

[CVPeg]

So bummed. Copied everything - pre-race, post-race. Stopped the Belmont coverage part-way through after the Met Mile, and restarted the DVR for the main feature.

It erased the hour and a half before and after the Belmont…

I know the race will be available, but I wanted to replay the crowd going wild for minutes afterwards, the presentations, etc., etc. - over and over again in the future.

Sigh. :sigh:

[kdow]

[QUOTE=danceronice;8181311]

It wasn’t 31 lengths or a dug-in gutting it out against a rival…AP just…loafed! How does he do that? Even Secretariat looked like he was working. AP canters along, someone comes up, Victor asks for a little more go and he says “Sure, whatever.” The hardest I think I’ve seen him have to dig was in the Derby when he put Firing Line away. Even after running a mile and a half and being made to do a not-usual-for-him grand pass of the grandstand hes just like “Am I done? Whatever, I’m cool either way.” And all this with no blinkers, so you know he can see other horses coming and even with the cotton in his ears he knows there’s a massive throng of people. His name should have been “Unflappable.” [/QUOTE]

I’m quite curious to see how his blood will figure in sport TB pedigrees in a bit, too. Obviously I don’t imagine anyone paying his stud fee JUST for a sport horse, but there will probably be some washouts, you know? He seems to have sanity AND athletic ability, that could be a very very nice thing to see in a sport horse prospect, if he passes it on.

[PeteyPie]

[QUOTE=CVPeg;8181361]
So bummed. Copied everything - pre-race, post-race. Stopped the Belmont coverage part-way through after the Met Mile, and restarted the DVR for the main feature.

It erased the hour and a half before and after the Belmont…

I know the race will be available, but I wanted to replay the crowd going wild for minutes afterwards, the presentations, etc., etc. - over and over again in the future.

Sigh. :sigh:[/QUOTE]

I was disappointed to miss the shot of American Pharoah wearing his blanket of white carnations. There were several shots of a groom carrying the blanket while AP was being led, but I wanted to see him posing with his carnations. After the speeches and cup presentation, it cut away to a hockey game.

[charismaryllis]

[QUOTE=FalseImpression;8181248]
in this race, not in the 1st one when a French colt had to be euthanized. RIP Helwan… sad to come all the way from France and to break down in your first race! Kind of takes a bit off all the joy![/QUOTE]

[Lauruffian]

American Pharoah’s fractions:

:24.06
:48.83
So he ran his second quarter mile in 24.77
1:13.41
Third quarter in 25.56
1:37.99
Fourth quarter in 24.58
2:02.33
Fifth quarter in 24.34
2:26.65
Final quarter in 24.32

Um…wow. That’s a tremendous machine of a different sort.

[Lauruffian]

Also, American Pharoah ran a faster 1 1/4 miles in his Belmont (2:02.33) than he did in his Derby (2:03.20). :eek:

[Kat_Renee]

[QUOTE=kdow;8181362]
I’m quite curious to see how his blood will figure in sport TB pedigrees in a bit, too. Obviously I don’t imagine anyone paying his stud fee JUST for a sport horse, but there will probably be some washouts, you know? He seems to have sanity AND athletic ability, that could be a very very nice thing to see in a sport horse prospect, if he passes it on.[/QUOTE]

I agree! I hope he has good offspring!

[billiebob]

Did anyone else go out and hug their OTTB tonight? And give every horse extra treats because one of their kind did something spectacular? Am I the only one this strange?

[skydy]

Great post on TB Champions forum…http://thoroughbredchampions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3634&start=20#p99802