American Pharoah overcame the opposition, and a massive late afternoon storm, to win the Preakness in a romp -- and finished off the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes after 37 years of frustration. "The Zayat Stables homebred never wavered, never stuttered, never gasped," wrote Sean Clancy of the Bob Baffert-trained, Victor Espinoza ridden colt after the Belmont.

"He's a very smart horse, a very intelligent horse," said Baffert after the Preakness. "He's just all class. . ."

For the first time in its 40-year history, a horse topped $1 million at a Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale in Timonium, Md. A Smart Strike filly, consigned by Eddie Woods and purchased by agent Ben McElroy, reached $1.25 million to lead record figures for gross ($22,659,000 from 255 horses sold) and average ($88,859 average).

The filly named Garnet placed twice in five starts, earning $16,210. She later sold for $500,000, then $75,000, as a broodmare, and is the dam of two stakes horses, one a graded winner. Two graduates who sold for much less became Grade 1 winners -- millionaire Discreet Lover and Hunter O'Riley, purchased for $10,000 and $50,000, respectively.

Down Town Allen, pulled up while seeking her third consecutive win in the Original Gold Stakes the previous month, lost her fight when euthanized due to her injuries. The only West Virginia-bred filly or mare to earn more than $1 million, the 25-time winner was a Charles Town superstar. Bred, owned and trained by John A. Casey, the 8-year-old daughter of Windsor Castle had won 14 consecutive starts at the track, 12 in stakes company, leading into her final race.

Force the Pass outran 10 rivals to win Penn National's first graded stakes in 26 years, the $500,000 Penn Mile. The turf stakes for 3-year-olds needed just two runnings before it was awarded Grade 3 status.

Penn National's Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Stakes had been a Grade 3 from 1973-89, and was won, after losing its grade, by the likes of Breeders' Cup winners Da Hoss and Chamberlain Bridge.