The Untold Story of the Triple Crown Winner’s Legendary Rise
By Joe Drape (Hachette Books)
Triple Crown Winner American Pharoah may have had only half a tail and sensitive ears that trainers stuffed with cotton, but he was as close to perfection as any race horse has ever been. Joe Drape, New York Times bestselling sportswriter selected the graceful colt as his subject in his book American Pharoah: The Untold Story of the Triple Crown Winner’s Legendary Rise. American Pharoah was the 12th horse to win three races on different tracks at varying distances over a five week span. From a Kentucky horse farm to a sales ring in Saratoga to a horse trainer’s barn in Santa Anita, America Pharoah gave every indication he was a champ in the making and Drape’s tome does an excellent job proving just that. The horse with a “certain aura” as world renowned trainer Bob Baffert recalled about the animal, caught everybody’s attention early on. It was a long road to the winner’s circle for the colt with the unusually short tail – having had it chewed off by another horse on the farm – and the misspelled moniker courtesy of a fan contest. The ethereal animal overcame injury and loss to become a title holder and along the way deeply touched the lives of the handlers that help develop and harness his talent. Author Joe Drape’s exceptional book is enhanced with an array of captivating photographs of the accomplished horse.
