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SARGA.CO – Ten years have passed since that iconic moment: jockey Victor Espinoza crossing the Belmont Stakes finish line aboard American Pharoah, smiling broadly with his arms raised, etching his name in history as the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.
That moment wasn’t just a victory—it was a symbol of revival for the prestige of American horse racing. Espinoza, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017, rode American Pharoah in 10 of his 11 career starts.
He recalled the first time he rode the Zayat Stables-bred colt at the Del Mar Futurity in 2014.
“The moment I got on him, I felt something different—his movement, his breathing, his power. I knew this was a special horse,”
Espinoza told americasbestracing.net.
The pair went on an extraordinary journey together—from the high-pressure 2015 Kentucky Derby to a rain-soaked Preakness Stakes. Espinoza described Pharoah as a joyful horse who loved to run, no matter the conditions.
At the decisive Belmont Stakes, the race that would determine the Triple Crown, Espinoza focused on maintaining Pharoah’s rhythm.
“He was light and powerful—like a cat that jumps high but lands softly. I knew he could win the Triple Crown,” Espinoza recalled.
With a 25-foot stride length, American Pharoah led the race from start to finish, delivering a dominant victory that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Their success didn’t stop there. After the Triple Crown, American Pharoah went on to win the Haskell Invitational Stakes and the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Classic, completing the historic Grand Slam of Thoroughbred Racing. His only defeat came in the Travers Stakes, where he finished second behind Keen Ice.
For Espinoza, riding American Pharoah remains an unmatched experience.
“He’s the best horse I’ve ever ridden. It was like driving a Bugatti—fast, smooth, and untouchable,” he said.
A decade later, American Pharoah’s name endures—a timeless symbol of power, grace, and unshakable greatness in the world of horse racing.
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