CHICAGO - Chicago Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville has a connection to Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert and called American Pharoah's victory "quite an achievement."
Baffert trains Midnight Hawk, owned by Quenneville and assistant Mike Kitchen, and he and the Chicago coach keep in touch regularly via text messages.
American Pharoah's convincing victory in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday happened at the same time as pre-game warm-ups for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final, but Quenneville still watched the performance and congratulated Baffert.
"I'm very happy for him, watched the race, great race, great for the sport," Quenneville said Sunday at United Center.