DERBY WINNER · 2015
American Pharoah: the champion who ended the wait
In this story
Thirty-seven years of anticipation met one extraordinary horse.
A debut that did not predict the ending
American Pharoah finished fifth in his first race. His career ultimately produced nine victories from eleven starts, showing how little one early result can say about a young horse’s future.
The 2015 Derby
With Victor Espinoza riding, he beat Firing Line by a length at Churchill Downs. The hard-fought finish was the first part of a Triple Crown sweep that ended the wait since Affirmed in 1978.
An even bigger season
American Pharoah also won the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland that autumn. Winning the Triple Crown and that race in the same year made his season especially distinctive.
Kentucky connections
Bred by Zayat Stables and trained by Bob Baffert, the colt is a son of Pioneerof the Nile out of Littleprincessemma. His later stallion career brought him back to Kentucky.
Celebrate a personal memory
If 2015 was your first Derby party or the year you began following racing, it can be a meaningful starting point for a collection. Confirm whether a retailer currently offers the year you want.
Historical source: National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame ↗. Written November 6, 2026.