Espinoza savors Triple Crown success

ELMONT, N.Y. – American Pharoah carried 126 pounds to victory in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. His jockey, Victor Espinoza, on the other hand, had the weight of the world on his shoulders before erasing memories of past Triple Crown failures with a flawless ride that helped guide American Pharoah into history as racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner.

Espinoza had been down the Triple Crown path twice before. In 2002, he rode War Emblem, who stumbled out of the gate before ultimately finishing a distant eighth, beaten nearly 20 lengths, by longshot Sarava. Last year, Espinoza also had trouble at the break aboard California Chrome, who never could quite recover, finishing in a disappointing dead heat for fourth behind Tonalist.

Espinoza also got away a step slowly on Saturday with American Pharoah. But this time, he was aboard a special horse who was more than talented enough to erase his earlier Triple Crown demons. Espinoza quickly urged the 3-5 favorite to the lead, got American Pharoah to relax through a very reasonable early pace, then got the response he was hoping for, the one he confidently expected, when setting him down in early stretch, American Pharoah readily pulling away from Frosted to a dominating 5 1/2-length victory.

“The horse next to me acted up a little bit, and [American Pharoah] leaned back just as they opened the gate, missed just a little touch,” said Espinoza. “But I think that might have helped him because he got all his weight on his back legs, then pushed forward so powerfully. Just two jumps, and I was right on the lead. That was my plan: Open up a length or two and let him just be happy. At that point, on the first turn, it was the best feeling I ever had.”

Espinoza, who celebrated his 43rd birthday two weeks ago, said he could not hear the deafening roar of the crowd as he came down the stretch on the lead with American Pharoah.

“I was so concentrated,” said Espinoza. “I said, ‘I’ve been here three times, and this hasn’t happened yet.’ I wanted to ride to the wire. I just dropped my hands, and he took off. It was such an amazing feeling being 20 yards from the wire, and you’re like three or four lengths in front. And then, at the finish line, I could not believe I did it, that I had won the Triple Crown.”

Espinoza said he knew American Pharoah, whom he’s ridden to seven consecutive victories, was a special horse the first time he rode him in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity at Del Mar last September.

“The only thing I could say after riding him the first time was wow,” said Espinoza. “I didn’t want to jinx myself, but I was thinking I have the Kentucky Derby winner. He’s just amazing. He’s like driving fast cars compared to slow ones.”

As he’s shown in the past, Espinoza was not only a deserving winner but a gracious one as well, sharing his good fortune with others.

“I won the Triple Crown, but I don’t make any money,” said Espinoza. “I donate all the money I make to City of Hope. This way, I benefit two times. I win the Triple Crown, and I can help young kids with cancer hopefully get better.”

In a span of less than 2 1/2 minutes on Saturday, Espinoza relieved himself of a burden he’s carried for 13 years and at the same time helped give the racing world a moment it’ll remember forever.