Includes bibliographical references (pages 275-278) and index.

A brief encounter -- Groundhog Day -- The "get-out" horse -- Get him out of here -- A long summer -- Blinkers on; blinkers off -- A rocket ship! -- Two turns? -- Better lucky than smart -- He's ready -- Barn 33 -- The first Saturday in May -- Old Hilltop -- The sport without a star is not a sport -- Test of a champion -- The victory lap -- The graveyard of champions -- California dreaming -- The last waltz.

"History was made at the 2015 Belmont Stakes when American Pharoah won the Triple Crown, the first since Affirmed in 1978. As magnificent as the champion is, the team behind him has been all too human while on the road to immortality. Written by an award-winning New York Times sportswriter, American Pharoah is the definitive account not only of how the ethereal colt won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes, but how he changed lives. Through extensive interviews, Drape explores the making of an exceptional racehorse, chronicling key events en route to history. Covering everything from the flamboyant owner's successful track record, the jockey's earlier heartbreaking losses, and the Hall of Fame trainer's intensity, Drape paints a stirring portrait of a horse for the ages and the people around him."--Publisher's description.