Baffert's Long Journey Finally Nets a Triple Crown

— -- ELMONT, N.Y. -- The crescendo began as he walked from the barns to the tunnel.

"Go, Bob," they yelled, first just a few, and then more and more taking on the cheer from their spots along the fences, cellphones snapping the moment.

It built more through the tunnel, following Bob Baffert as he wound his way up the stairs and through what became a phalanx of humanity in the box seat area, the cheers by then turning into almost a chant.

And then, just as American Pharoah's trainer was entering his seating area, Frank Sinatra neared his own crescendo of "New York, New York."

"I'm king of the hill," Sinatra sang. "Top of the heap."

Minutes later, American Pharoah turned Sinatra's lyrics into prophecy when he crossed the finish line 5½ lengths ahead of second-place finisher Frosted to become the first horse in 37 years to win the Triple Crown.

The horse now joins a select fraternity of champions, his name forever linked with the game's superhorses such as Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Citation.

And his trainer, who was 0-for-3 since making his first attempt at the sport's elusive prize 18 years ago, is now the king of the sport of kings, at the top of the heap.

Baffert and his horse achieved what had become one of sport's most elusive accomplishments, delivering not only another chapter of history to the record books but a much-needed shot of adrenaline to their sport.