LEXINGTON, Ky. — The remarkable racing career of American Pharoah came full circle on Saturday when the Triple Crown champion won the final race of his career in the state where he was born, and will now take immediate retirement.
The bay colt won the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic for his ninth victory in 11 career races, sealing his legacy as a horse for the ages.
American Pharoah earned a $2.75 million first-place check for his owner, Ahmed Zayat. As the prohibitive favorite, he paid just $2.10 to his backers, but they didn’t seem to mind: a capacity crowd of 45,000 at Keeneland in the heart of bluegrass country roared as the colt rolled down the stretch for the victory.