Espinoza seeks Breeders' Cup 'bonus' aboard Pharoah

American Pharoah's run to Triple Crown glory gave jockey Victor Espinoza a taste of pop culture celebrity, but he'll be happy to be back in the saddle on Saturday as the colt caps his career with Breeders' Cup Classic bid.

With Espinoza in the irons, American Pharoah became just the 12th horse -- and the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 -- to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

The rare feat put horse racing back on the map in America -- at least temporarily -- and brought Espinoza a short-lived reality TV stint on Dancing With The Stars.

"It was a really different experience for me," Espinoza said, adding the demanding training for the show was harder than controlling a thundering thoroughbred.

"When I first signed on, I thought it was going to be easy and fun," he said. "Oh man, it was really, really hard. More mentally than physically, because I'm in good shape, but training so many hours my mind was, like, crazy."

He was voted off the show by viewers after three dances, but as he met the press last week at Santa Anita racetrack near Los Angeles -- where American Pharoah was putting in his last serious works before shipping to Lexington, Kentucky, for the Breeders' Cup -- he was pleased at the prospect of rejoining his more familiar partner.

"I'm excited for the Breeders' Cup," said the 43-year-old Espinoza, who isn't worried that American Pharoah's legacy could be tarnished by a defeat in the $5 million Classic.

"We already made history," he said. "Every race I ride him is just like an extra bonus for me at this point."

Pharoah is the first Triple Crown winner to have a chance to add a Breeders' Cup win to his resume, since the event wasn't inaugurated until 1984.

The autumn add-on makes for a long season, one that for American Pharoah included thousands of miles of cross-country travel as well as training and racing.

After winning the Belmont, American Pharoah extended his winning streak to eight races with a win in the Haskell Invitational in August, but was runner up to Keen Ice in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga in September.

Trainer Bob Baffert and Espinoza say a 60-day break from racing has the eager colt looking sharp again.

"I think what makes him such an amazing and great Triple Crown winner is because he loves to run," Espinoza said. "He loves his job and he loves to train. When he comes to the races every time he's ready."

Even so, Espinoza said American Pharoah's last race, before he's retired to Coolmore's Ashford Stud near Lexington, won't be a bittersweet experience.

"It's not emotional because I think he deserves a break," Espinoza said. "After all he's been through and running so many amazing races, I'm excited for him that he gets to go have fun at the farm."
Source: AFP