American Pharoah captures U.S. Triple Crown (Reuters)

By Steve Ginsburg ELMONT, New York (Reuters) – American Pharoah entered the pantheon of U.S. thoroughbred racing’s all-time greats by winning the Belmont Stakes wire-to-wire on Saturday to become the first horse to capture the coveted ‘Triple Crown’ in nearly four decades. In winning a seventh straight race, American Pharoah became the 12th horse and first since Affirmed in 1978 to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. As he crossed the finish line, jockey Victor Espinoza pumped his fist as the crowd of 90,000 at sold-out Belmont Park roared.