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"Great horses do great things," Baffert said after his sixth Preakness victory, "and he showed that today. He's just an incredible horse."


"I don't even want to think about the Triple Crown right now,' the 62-year-old trainer said. "I want to enjoy this. It's tough up there."



A rainstorm began about 15 minutes before the race went off, preceded by several lightning bolts, but it didn't affect American Pharoah, a sweet-striding 3-year-old. The colt dealt with similar conditions in winning the Rebel Stakes in March.


The dominating win confirmed owner Ahmed Zayat's belief that American Pharoah is a champion in the making.

"I always told everybody American Pharoah would show up today," said Zayat, drenched after his trip to the winner's circle. "Indeed he did. He is the real deal."

American Pharoah may have only half a tail and sensitive ears that Baffert stuffs with cotton, but he's pretty close to perfection. Bought back at auction by Zayat for $300,000, American Pharoah earned $900,000 for the win to boost his winnings to $3.7 million.

A Triple Crown is priceless.

"He put on a show today," said Zayat, a businessman from Egypt who lives in Teaneck, New Jersey. "Nobody came close to him.

He added: "The sport without star is not a sport."



"I hope the third one is the charm," Espinoza said.

American Pharoah broke a step slow before Espinoza hustled him to the lead. He then fended off a brief bid from Mr. Z, while American Pharoah's stablemate, Dortmund, and Derby runner-up Firing Line were never factors.

"He didn't like the sloppy track," said Dortmund's rider, Martin Garcia. "He didn't come out good from the gate. He didn't like the mud in his face."


"That took his momentum and then he never really got hold of the track," Callaghan said.

American Pharoah comes into the 1 1/2-mile Belmont with a six-race winning streak. His margin of victory in the Preakness was the largest since Smarty Jones won by a record 11 1/2 lengths in 2004. It matched the sixth-largest margin in Preakness history.


American Pharoah was sent off as the 4-5 favorite and returned $3.80, $3.40 and $2.80. Tale of Verve returned $19 and $8.80, and Divining Rod paid $5.20.




"There is no denying American Pharoah was impressive today and we should all savor his performance," Turcotte said in a statement. "The sport needs a Triple Crown winner and he could very well be the one."

