LEXINGTON, Ky. — Triple Crown champion American Pharoah is going out on top. The horse won the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic by 6 1/2 lengths Saturday in his final race before retirement, which means he earned a "Grand Slam."
The 3-year-old colt ran 1 1/4 miles in a track-record 2:00.07 as the sentimental 3-5 favorite among the crowd of 50,155 at Keeneland. Fans stood 20-deep all along the rail, cheering and snapping cell phone photos of the superstar horse.
American Pharoah has done it!! And the crowd goes wildddd #GRANDSLAM #BC15 pic.twitter.com/S8MUDQ09kd— Breeders' Cup (@BreedersCup) October 31, 2015
American Pharoah is the first horse to win both the Triple Crown and Classic since the Breeders' Cup began in 1984, according to the Courier Journal.
[seealso url ="http://sale-online.click/2015/06/06/american-pharaoh-did-it-belmont-win-brings-first-triple-crown-winner-in-37-years/#0lAoUi4qCkqg"]
American Pharoah won nine of his 11 career starts, including the first sweep of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont in 37 years this spring. He earned a total of $8,650,300 for Ahmed Zayat, the Egyptian-born owner who chose to keep his popular horse in training so fans could see him run.
Effinex, a 33-1 shot, finished second and Honor Code was third.