American Pharoah ends Triple Crown drought

Elusive for 37 years in the world of horse racing and across three oh-so-close attempts for trainer Bob Baffert, the Triple Crown was finally realized once again upon the fleet feet and strong gait of American Pharoah.

Leading from wire to wire despite a somewhat shaky start, the 3-year-old ran into history on Saturday afternoon in Elmont, NY, claiming the Belmont Stakes and the third and most elusive jewel in the Triple Crown.

With the victory, American Pharoah became the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win one of sport’s grandest prizes. It was also the first crown for Baffert, who resides in La Cañada Flintridge

“It’s very emotional, I’m thinking about my parents, I wish they were here now,” Baffert, 62, told NBC’s Kenny Rice among the celebratory bedlam that ensued following the race.

With jockey Victor Espinoza steering American Pharoah into the lead, the 12th Triple Crown winner pulled away down the stretch to win by 5 ½ lengths – the fourth-largest margin in Triple Crown history. Frosted took second, with Keen Ice finishing in third.

“I just feel like I have a very special horse,” Baffert said, “and he’s the one that won it, not me,” Bob Baffert on being a Triple Crown winner, which is winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the same calendar year.

Baffert, a hall of fame trainer who has 2,065 wins, had previously fallen short of the Triple Crown with losses at Belmont in 1997 (Silver Charm, second), 1998 (Real Quiet, second) and 2002 (War Emblem, eighth).

“This is for Bob, this is for the sport, this is for everyone,” said Justin Zayat, one of the horse’s owners, in an NBC post-race interview.

It was also Espinoza’s first Triple Crown in his third try.

“Wow, wow,” Espinoza told NBC. “It’s just unbelievable.”

Out of the gates, American Pharoah’s start wasn’t great, but he set the pace.

“He broke a step slow,” Espinoza said. “But he was right in the lead.”

American Pharoah, which won its seventh race in a row overall, went to the start with Materiality, seen by most as American Pharoah’s top challenger, in second.

Materiality continued to put pressure on the No. 5 horse, but American Pharoah held a three-quarter’s length lead at the half-way point. Materiality began to wane as Frosted turned it on, but so too did American Pharoah.

At the top of the stretch, American Pharoah made its move and began to pull away en route to its 5 ½-length win and history.

While the bay colt was the 12th Triple Crown winner, it was the first to sweep all three major races without having previously run at Belmont Park.

For Baffert, an Arizona native, it was his 12th victory in a Triple Crown race, as he has four Kentucky Derby wins, six Preakness victory and, on Saturday, realized his second and likely most fulfilling Belmont triumph.

“He’s just a great horse,” Baffert said. “It takes a great horse to win it.”

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Grant Gordon, grant.gordon@latimes.com

Twitter: @TCNGrantGordon