American Pharoah won a rain-soaked Preakness Stakes, keeping alive his bid to become the first horse in 37 years to claim US racing's Triple Crown.

The Kentucky Derby winner, trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Victor Espinoza, was untroubled by driving rain that turned the Pimlico track to a soupy mess minutes before post time.

Taken to the front early, American Pharoah cruised to victory in the 1 3/16-mile race ahead of longshot Tale of Verve, with Divining Rod third.

"Just an incredible horse," Baffert said after watching his charge dominate in a race that took on added drama in a deluge that began soon after the horses were saddled.

Fans in the Pimlico infield were shepherded into tents as thunder rolled and the horses were loaded into the starting gate.

After a little wobble out of the inside gate, American Pharoah was quickly taken to the front of the eight horse field by Espinoza and never looked back on the way to a seven-length triumph.

"He broke a little tiny bit slow, and then I pushed him to go to the front," said Espinoza, who hadn't planned to go straight to the front but changed his strategy because of the rain.

"As soon as I took the lead, that was it," he said. "A very comfortable cruise around at high speed."

- Belmont looms -

Now with a victory in the June 6 Belmont Stakes American Pharoah can become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to capture the Triple Crown.

Pharoah is the 14th horse since Affirmed to win the first two legs of the coveted treble.

Baffert has now saddled four of those horses -- including Silver Charm in 1997, Real Quiet in 1998 and War Emblem in 2002.

"I don't even want to think about it right now," Baffert said of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes dubbed "The Test of the Champion."

"It's tough up there. I don't even want to think about it for another couple of weeks. We'll see how he comes back -- it's been a great ride so far."

Baffert isn't the only member of the American Pharoah team who has seen prior Triple Crown dreams dashed at the Belmont.

Espinoza piloted California Chrome to Kentucky Derby and Preakness victories last year before a fourth-place finish in the Belmont.

He was also aboard 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner War Emblem, who was denied in the Belmont.

"It seems like hopefully the third time is the lucky charm," Espinoza said of his chances of finally finishing off a Triple Crown.

In the Belmont, American Pharoah will not only have to get the longer distance, he'll face a field filled with fresh contenders who skipped either the Kentucky Derby or Preakness or even both.

Last year, Tonalist, a colt that skipped both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, won the Belmont.

Baffert, who has long said the Preakness is the easiest of the Triple Crown races to win, has now won it six times -- tying fellow Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas for the second-most all-time.

But he was emotional after the win, offering thanks to the city of Baltimore which in recent weeks saw violent demonstrations over the April 19 death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old African American who sustained a severe spine injury while in police custody.

"I want to thank Baltimore," Baffert said. "You guys have been through a lot."
Source: AFP