Victor Espinoza is face-to-face with the chance of a lifetime – for an astounding third time – as he prepares to pilot American Pharoah to potential Triple Crown glory in the Belmont Stakes.
“I’m feeling lucky this year – third time is a charm,” said the 43-year-old ahead of1 1/2-mile race at Belmont Park in New York.
Espinoza is the first jockey to get a third chance to capture American racing’s coveted treble of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.
“I never thought I was going to be in this position that I’m at right now for the third time. One time I thought it was just amazing and the second time I like ‘OK I never thought I’d have another chance now,” said Espinoza, whose first Triple Crown try in 2002 ended with his mount War Emblem’s stumble out of the gate in the Belmont.
His second chance didn’t come until last year, when he guided California Chrome to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, only to finish fourth in the Belmont.
“I can’t look back and worry about the two times I lost the Belmont,” Espinoza said. “Every day is different. Every horse is different.”
But Espinoza has learned something about managing the scrutiny that comes with a Triple Crown bid.
Only 11 horses have achieved the treble, the most recent Affirmed in 1978. Every chance brings a white-hot spotlight, and every miss is discussed and dissected.
“I never get too caught up in the moment,” Espinoza said. “I just keep working on my career, doing things normally.”
Bidding to ruin his opportunity this time around is former UAE champion handler Kiaran McLaughlin who expects his horse, Frosted, to stick closer to the pace tonight after a promising trip in the Kentucky Derby.
Owned by Godolphin, the son of Tapit was a fast-finishing fourth in the Derby and has been made the 5-1 second favourite.
The progressive colt will break from the sixth stall under Joel Rosario. And in a bid to be fresh for the Belmont showpiece, he skipped the Preakness – the last nine winners of the Belmont have done the same – and is aiming to repeat the feat of McLaughlin’s Jazil in the 2006 running.
Jimmy Bell, who runs the Darley Stonerside stable where Frosted is based, said: “We’re going to have to have an A+ day. But these races have a lot of intrigue and variables that can happen. It doesn’t always go according to plan.”
Like Frosted, Godolphin’s Mubtaahij will also be in the running to ruin American Pharoah’s Triple Crown bid. The UAE Derby winner owned by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, also skipped the Preakness after finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby.
