[QUOTE=Lauruffian;8181376]
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:[/QUOTE]
The Derby was pretty clearly an “off” race for him. Amazing that he still gutted out the win!
I keep rewatching the coverage and the race. Incredible!
I think its great that AP got the Triple Crown. It has been… awhile!!! Whether this-- whether that-- about him and the contenders he ran against-- doesn’t matter now. He got it done, he got the Triple Crown and that cannot be taken from him. He goes down in history books, and he will be on everyone’s mind as the place to start the countdown for the next one. Which could be next year, next decade, or so far in the future it is difficult to imagine! The Triple Crown is a big deal because it IS a difficult feat. It should not be watered down-- it is a tradition now in its own right and to change it is to take away from the rich history that is part of what makes it a big deal. Change it, and it is no longer THE Triple Crown, it is just a manipulative devise to try to shore up interest in the racing industry.
[QUOTE=PeteyPie;8181358]
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.[/QUOTE]
Now that my handicapping has been truly humbled and I am searching for a rock to crawl under I have to now admit AP is a very special horse. The time in the race says it all. AP is a deserving TC winner.
Considering the huge value in the breeding shed, then if he was my horse he would get a mysterious boo-boo, and retire to breeding.
[QUOTE=JanM;8181472]
Considering the huge value in the breeding shed, then if he was my horse he would get a mysterious boo-boo, and retire to breeding.[/QUOTE]
He jogged back to the winners circle lame on the right front.
He is a very special horse, he has shown that for sure.
I didn’t see, but someone said he rode the final stretch on hands only. True?
And he has a full brother on the ground. 
[QUOTE=Shammy Davis;8181469]
Now that my handicapping has been truly humbled and I am searching for a rock to crawl under I have to now admit AP is a very special horse. The time in the race says it all. AP is a deserving TC winner.[/QUOTE]
Oh stay out from under the rock and enjoy the party! It was a beautiful performance to watch…
[QUOTE=Chall;8181498]
I didn’t see, but someone said he rode the final stretch on hands only. True?[/QUOTE]
No. Victor hit him, but once he opened up, he put his stick away.
He made it look easy, like he was cruising. Love him, love the jockey’s comments that he is so smooth he feels like he is going slow. Hope we get to watch him race again.
[QUOTE=Chall;8181498]
I didn’t see, but someone said he rode the final stretch on hands only. True?[/QUOTE]
He tapped him a couple of times, but once he responded it was pretty much hands and heels.
The way he responded when asked, got down and lengthened his stride, man that was spine tingling stuff.
Seriously, if you haven’t watched it, really do yourself a favour and look at it, this was history, you gotta look at it.
Here’s the replay… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyDcXtVb8_U
Just watched the video, to see it again … it’s just fantastic.
I looked at some of the comments – people are so weird, there’s actually someone commenting the race was fixed so there would be a TC victory to put life back in racing. People can make a conspiracy theory out of anything, can’t they?
So many folks can’t just seem to simply enjoy something wonderful in the world.
[QUOTE=PeteyPie;8181369]
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.[/QUOTE]
Go to the Washington Post website. They have a photo gallery of the race and afterwards including one shot of him with the carnations. Enjoy!
Start the photo show with this article.
I love how, before the Derby, pundits were hailing this as the strongest, most talented crop of 3 year olds in many, many years. Now we got a TC winner out of this same crop? It’s become a weak bunch.
Think it’s worth noting that AP ran the final quarter in a 1 1/2 mile race FASTER then all but the first quarter out of the gate while leading all of them and understand his final quater in the Belmont was faster then his final quarter in the Derby. Somebody can look into that closer, think it’s pretty unusual.
Somebody is saying he was off in front parading in front of the stands after the race? If that were true the track vets would be involved, they aren’t and the horse is fine this AM. I watched it back twice and can’t see a thing, with the Pony there, he’s not even stepping out long or straight enough to make any evaluation…and he’s sure walking good, long and square going back to the barn with his groom.
I remember they said a lot of similar stuff when the others won. Secretariat was the best of the worst three year old crop in decades, Seattle Slews connections were not popular and the press fed on them and Affirmed was heralded with demands the TC be made harder to win, it was too easy.
Same old, same old.
[QUOTE=Flash44;8181481]
He jogged back to the winners circle lame on the right front.[/QUOTE]
Can’t find video. Do you have a link?
He was on the Today Show this morning! Along with trainer, jock and the groom they never mentioned :rolleyes:. Horse was amazingly mellow, standing there, being petted, trying to eat the arm of the chair… My old riding horse would not have been as well-behaved.
ETA: Found the link - http://www.today.com/video
[QUOTE=keysfins;8181612]
Can’t find video. Do you have a link?[/QUOTE]
I saw it live on a big screen tv, with a vet sitting right next to me, who also thought he was off. You need a good eye to see it, he was not head bobbing, just a bit off. I would not have noticed but it was right in front of me large as life. I was able to find an online video that shows him jogging back, but it’s not great quality and I was not able to tell anything from that video. It’s standard practice for a vet to check in with his/her clients whenever they have a horse run to see if the horse needs anything, so I’m sure Baffert’s vet touched base with him.
There’s an NYTimes article about PioneeroftheNile, the one with peppermints in the title, which raves about the horse’s temperament. So maybe American Pharoah inherited the Fappiano brain which has been so well proved in event horses.
Bet there will be a spike in PioneeroftheNile’s stud fee since one of the breeding axioms is “if you like the son, breed to the sire.”
I wonder if he was off on the shoe with the built-up pad? Or the other one?
