It was just me, American Pharoah, and Jimmy Barnes with not another soul around in as intimate a moment as I could ever recall with a Derby favorite....
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People wonder why I often hark back to the horses of the '60s and '70s, and don't reminisce as much about incredibly gifted horses such as American Pharoah, Bernardini, Barbaro, Point Given, I'll Have Another, Big Brown, Uncle Mo and other brilliant horses who were retired at 3. ...
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We have entered a new era on the Triple Crown trail, where many trainers now plan only two preps for the Kentucky Derby. It has proven successful over the past decade, so more and more trainers are adopting that philosophy....
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Winston Churchill once said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” No one can really put into words the centuries-long bond between horses and humans, especially the emotional and sometimes mystical attachment we have had with these magnificent creatures throughout history. But there are times when Churchill’s quote is taken to a far deeper level, and...
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Since last year's Travers Stakes, the racing world has been trying to place Arrogate's astounding feats in historical perspective. With the Juddmonte colt having started in only three stakes races, it's been nearly impossible to explain his mind-boggling performances and meteoric rise to stardom, because no one has seen anything like it before....
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In honor of American Pharoah's Birthday, I thought I would reprint my column recapping his historic Belmont Stakes and Triple Crown victory. Brings back a lot of special memories....
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Looking back at American Pharoah's Triple Crown through pictures....
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These are just some of my Belmont Stakes memories. The Triple Crown trilogy is completed; flashbacks of a life on the racetrack to be savored and cherished....
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So, American Pharoah continues to be the gift that keeps giving. He has turned Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Versailles, Ky. into a palace ruled by a new king with riches beyond compare....
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Sometimes, a brief comment can trigger a deluge of thoughts and images, and such was the case when Bob Baffert said of American Pharoah at the Longines World's Best Racehorse Award Jan. 19 in London, "He showed the beauty of racing." ...
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There have been some exciting racing videos on YouTube this year, but none more exciting and revealing, and ultimately profound than the GoPro video of American Pharoah's gallop the day before the Travers Stakes....
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The phenomenon that is American Pharoah is about so much more than awards and honors....
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There has been a great deal written recently about American Pharoah’s place among the all-time greats. For what he accomplished this year, and last year, I feel he elevated himself into the realm of immortals, not only based on his historic accomplishments on the racetrack, but what he meant to the entire sport and racing fans all over the world, on and off the racetrack. I thought following this past...
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Who has been more esteemed by so many? Who has demonstrated more fairness? Who has been more courteous and has exhibited more good temper toward his or her fans than American Pharoah?...
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Several years ago during Kentucky Derby week, I wrote a small segment in my column about Iraqi War veteran Chris Simonds and his special Kentucky Derby dream. ...
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It was just me, American Pharoah, and Jimmy Barnes with not another soul around in as intimate a moment as I could ever recall with a Derby favorite....
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The amazing energy emitted by American Pharoah in his stirring swan song performance had to be felt 650 miles away through a television screen....
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At 2 a.m Sunday morning, America turned the clocks back an hour. Approximately eight hours earlier, the Thoroughbred racing world turned the clocks back 40, 50, 60 years, back to the Golden Era of the sport when there were Triple Crown winners who would go on to earn their place among the truly greats....
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Well, all the preps are over, and now comes the waiting; first for the pre-entries, then the entries to determine the starting fields. ...
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There is one final moment on the American Pharoah post Triple Crown tour that needs to be mentioned; this time to demonstrate how today's sights, sounds, and actions can reflect the changing times....
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All I can say, from past experience, is that this race scares the heck out of me, even though American Pharoah looks as if he could have everything his own way on the lead and could very well take the field on a merry romp. ...
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The Travers will be the 3-year-old showdown of the year with American Pharoah taking on Texas Red and Frosted, and several others, on their home turf at Saratoga....
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Although we are well aware of Saratoga's reputation, this in no way is meant to suggest or influence what American Pharoah's connections should do regarding running in the Travers....
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We are all well aware by now that Jill Baffert is the "woman behind the man" in the Baffert family, but it is time to meet the "women" of the Zayat family....
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What follows is a chronicle of American Pharoah's rise from an injured 2-year-old champion with a one-dimensional style of running to an icon; the personification of perfection--physically, mechanically, and mentally. In short, the ultimate racing machine....
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