Wow, American Pharoah sure looked fantastic winning The Belmont.  No horse could do it for 37 years and then he made it look like a piece of cake.  Chuck and I watched the race after feeding the mares and babies here at the farm. We were happy to have our son David and grandson Ean spending the day at the farm so we could all watch history being made with American Pharoah’s win.

Our Pioneerof The Nile – Rose of Siena yearling filly.

After watching all the congratulations and presentations of trophies to members of the American Pharoh team, we took a walk to see the three offspring of Pioneerof the Nile at Rosecrest.  We shared the great news with them.  I’m not sure, but I think our Rose of Siena 14 winked at us.

Paris was represented by Dr. Murray West and Bobby Shiflet covering the Belmont for The Bourbon County Citizen-Advertiser.  Murray has been going to the Belmont for sometime but this was a first for Bobby.  It was a whirlwind trip since they drove to accommodate all of their equipment.  They spent 14 hours driving and then spent Friday and Saturday at the track starting at 5:00 am to get the good morning light on the workouts.  Plus, with so many photographers they had to stakeout where they wanted to spend the rest of the day for the races.

Bobby was up at the crack of dawn to get the workout photos but he left Murray to stake out their position on the rail by himself while Bobby went into Manhattan for a few hours.  He lunched in Chinatown and then spent time in and around the business district.  He did get back in time to get more great photos.  Poor Murray.

Triple Crown Jubilation…copyright photo by Bobby Shiflet.

They both had a great time documenting history of the 12th Triple Crown Winner. When I asked them what they remembered most, Bobby said he could not remember attending any other event where the crowd was so emotional for as long as this crowd was after Pharoah’s win.  Murray agreed the crowd was incredible.  In fact, I remember him using the adjectives “electrified” and “pandemonium”.

The crowd after The Belmont, as American Pharoah tries to make his way to the Winners’ Circle. (Copyright photo by Murray West.)

For days after, everyone was still talking about “The Race” or American Pharoah.  Even at Lil’s, the buzz was all about where you watched the race and who you watched it with.  One gentleman shared that he and his wife, who usually don’t watch horse racing, were thrilled watching this great athlete, and their son called them from Montana where he and a group of friends watched the race.  American Pharoah has created such excitement that fall racing at Keeneland will be even more fun and The Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland will be nothing short of wild and crazy.

Speaking of racing, we have a quick update on Miss Noble Rose.  As many of you know, she is our two-year-old filly training at Keeneland with Phil Sims.  Phil says she’s been training well — moving good and when working in company she would not let the other horse pass her …sounds like she takes after her mama Miss Dixie Rose!

At the moment she is back at the farm nursing a bruised cannon bone.  Hopefully she will be back at the track and have her first start later this summer.  So if you have not added her to your Virtual Stable, do it now so you can keep in touch with her career.