By Kathy Wray Coleman, editor-in-chief, Cleveland Urban News. Com and The Cleveland Urban News.Com Blog, Ohio's Most Read Online Black Newspaper and Newspaper Blog, Tel: (216) 659-0473. Email: editor@clevelandurbannews.com.

Kathy Wray Coleman is  a community activist and 22- year investigative journalist who trained for 17 years at the Call and Post Newspaper.

(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com).

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky-American Pharoah, ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, scarcely won the 141st  run of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs in Louisville before a crowd of some 170,00 people.

"I feel like the luckiest Mexican on earth," said Espinoza, a native of Mexico and a Mexican-American. "It's unbelievable."

The total purse for this year's annual Derby event was $2 million, with the first place winner getting $1.24 million, and the second place finisher taking home $400,000. Third, fourth and fifth places took home $200,000, $100,000 and $60,000 respectively.

The second two- year champion to win the Derby in the past five years who lived up to the hype as the projected overall favorite, American Pharoah won by a length over Firing, with Dortmund, also a favorite, coming in third.

A premier thoroughbred race horse, American Pharoah paid $7.80 on a $2 bet to win, $5.80 to place, and $4.20 to show. The odds, with a mediocre payout, reflected its popularity as a front-runner.

Trainer Bob Baffert was elated and told reporters after the race that he thanks God for good horses and that he is "lucky to be in the picture."

Next is the fight for a triple crown, which Espinoza, riding 2014 Derby winner California Chrome, could not bring home last year.

Last year California Chrome placed fifth at the Belmont Stakes, even after winning the Kentucky Derby as a 5-4 favorite , and subsequently the Preakness.

Affirmed remains the last triple crown winner for the last 36 years and since 1978.

The Kentucky Derby, held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, is always the first Saturday in May, with the Preakness in Baltimore, Maryland held two weeks later, and the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York three weeks after that, but never before June 5 or after June 11 for the Belmont Stakes. Winning all three legs will bring a triple crown.

(www.clevelandurbannews.com) /(www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com).