(Reuters) – Triple Crown winner American Pharoah won the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky on Saturday to end his career as horse racing’s first-ever Grand Slam champion.
The Bob Baffert-trained colt, who earlier this year became the 12th horse — and first since Affirmed in 1978 — to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, romped to a commanding 6 1/2 length victory over a fading Effinex to bring the curtain down on a spectacular career. Honor Code was a distant third.
“I am so proud of this horse, but I am so relieved.,” said a jubilant Baffert. “When he’s