He did it! Yes, he did it! My Hero! Well, after Secretariat,that is. What a beautiful win for American Pharoah, dominating the race from start to finish and looking like he still had plenty of gas left. Ziggy, of course, ran around the pasture in the rain like a silly fool, shouting: “He won! He won! He Won!” while I watched her from the shelter of the big pine tree. The cattle were also watching her jumping and bucking, wondering what the ruckus was all about.

I must admit that I am glad that American Pharoah did run in the Breeder’s Classic. It gave him the opportunity to prove that he deserves his place among the greats of horse racing. This victory certainly erases his defeat in the Travers (did you notice that Keen Ice was never in contention?) But then, even the great Secretariat did not win all his races (16 out of 21 to be exact.) There is little doubt that he will be named Horse-of-the-Year and earn the Eclipse Award for 3-Year-Old Colts. I am betting the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Moment of the Year will be American Pharoah’s win in the Belmont Stakes which crowned him as the 12th Triple Crown winner.

Did you know that Omaha is the only Triple Crown winner not to win Horse-of-the Year award in 1935? That distinction went to Discovery who was four at the time and known as the “Iron Horse” due to his capacity for carrying great weights and still end up in the winner’s circle.