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Thursday, June 4th, 2020

AMERICAN PHAROAH’S HISTORIC TRIPLE CROWN RUN IN BELMONT STAKES HEADLINES NBC SPORTS SPECIAL THIS SAT., JUNE 6 AT 4 P.M. ET ON NBC

Saturday’s Live Coverage of Santa Anita Derby at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN, Follows NBC Belmont Stakes Special

 “The 37-year wait is over. American Pharoah is finally the one! American Pharoah has won the Triple Crown!” – Larry Collmus’ 147^th Belmont Stakes Race Call on NBC

Coverage Will be Streamed on NBCSports.com & the NBC Sports app

STAMFORD, Conn. – June 4, 2020 – With the 152^nd Belmont Stakes postponed until June 20, NBC Sports presents a special show on NBC at 4 p.m. ET this Saturday, June 6 – the original date for the race – headlined by American Pharoah’s historic victory in the 2015 Belmont Stakes.

The two-hour special Finally the One: American Pharoah’s Run to the Triple Crown will look back at American Pharoah’s win in the 147^th Belmont Stakes, becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 and 12^th overall, beginning with Sir Barton in 1919. American Pharoah ran the race in 2:26.65 which was the sixth-fastest of all time and the second-fastest (behind only Secretariat in 1973) among Triple Crown winners. NBC Sports’ Larry Collmus’ call: “The 37-year wait is over. American Pharoah is finally the one! American Pharoah has won the Triple Crown!”

Following the special NBC Belmont Stakes show this Saturday, NBCSN presents TVG Trackside Live at 6 p.m. ET, headlined by live coverage of the $400,000 Santa Anita Derby from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. TVG host and NBC Sports reporter Britney Eurton will provide commentary during the event.

The Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby will award qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale towards the 146^th Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5. Ten winners of the Santa Anita Derby have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby, including Triple Crown winners Affirmed (1978) and Justify (2018).

American Pharoah’s trainer, two-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert, has two strong contenders in Saturday’s race: Authentic and Azul Coast. Authentic is undefeated in three career starts, which includes wins in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) and Sham (G3), both held at Santa Anita Park. Azul Coast finished runner-up to Authentic in the Sham (G3) in January. Both will face stiff competition from Honor A. P., who’s trained by Kentucky Derby-winner John Shirreffs. A son of Honor Code, Honor A. P. finished runner-up to Authentic in the San Felipe Stakes (G2) in March.

Some other contenders are: Shooters Shoot, who’s trained by Peter Eurton, the father of NBC Sports reporter Britney Eurton, and the Michael McCarthy-trained Rushie. Shooters Shoot is coming off back-to-back wins: he broke his maiden at Santa Anita in March, then picked up an allowance victory at Oaklawn Park in April. Rushie has won two of his last three races, including an allowance win at Oaklawn Park last month.

Live coverage will be streamed on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs.

NBC SPORTS HORSE RACING SCHEDULE, THROUGH JUNE (All Times ET)

NBC SPORTS GROUP AND HORSE RACING: NBC Sports Group is the exclusive home to the most important and prestigious events in horse racing, including the Triple Crown, the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Royal Ascot, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Series. NBC has been the exclusive home of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes since 2001, and the Belmont Stakes since 2011, when NBC Sports Group reassembled the Triple Crown.

–NBC SPORTS–