American Pharaoh and Victor Espinoza
In the very same barn their was another exceptionally talented horse, Dortmund, but he didn't seem to like the crowds. He was more on edge and nervous, unsettled enough to warrant saddling in the tunnel at the Kentucky Derby. This effects their performance. Nothing much seems to ruffle Pharaoh's feathers, the challenges came at him during the Belmont but fell away with only Frosted putting in a really good effort. They were all quality horses that had won classic races from Dubai to New York but AP drew away by five.
War Emblem stumbled at the start of his Belmont Stakes, Smarty Jones was a puller and the challengers wore him down purposely to have it snatched in the last few strides. The gelding, Funny Cide, was a puller also and a horse that sat on his flank made him overwork an tried him to defeat. Big Brown had the worst ride you will ever see in a Belmont, look at the replays and judge for yourself. His jockey decided to pull the horse up after getting him in trouble. I'll Have Another, was questionably withdrawn the night before. California Chrome, a lovely horse, just wasn't as fit on his big day as Tonalist.
American Pharaoh was able to run wire-to-wire and still had juice in the tank.