American Pharoah produced a dazzling performance to lead his rivals a merry dance in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland.
The first horse to win the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978, the Bob Baffert-trained three-year-old bounced back from a shock defeat in the Travers Stakes to confirm beyond any doubt his superstar credentials.
There might have been a brief moment when his rivals had a flicker of hope as they closed down the back, but it was just a flicker as he strode away in magnificent fashion when Victor Espinoza got lower in the saddle.
Effinex, a huge outsider, ran a big race to be second.
In contrast, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Gleneagles never looked happy at any stage on the dirt and came home in his own time when it was clear his chance had gone.
Triple Crown hero American Pharoah leads gate to wire to take the Breeders' Cup Classic @keeneland #Champion #BC2015 pic.twitter.com/4CwgScbAik
— Coolmore (@coolmorestud) October 31, 2015
O'Brien said of the dual Classic-winning Gleneagles, who has had plans constantly interrupted due to unsuitably soft ground through the summer: "It was a massive ask, and I take my hat off to the lads for letting him run.
"I've always thought he was a really good, fast-ground miler and when you consider the things that have happened to him this year, it's just nice to see him come back safe and sound. He is going straight to stud now.
"He was trained for four other races without running, but let's take our hat off to the winner - you won't see many things in your life to rival what he has achieved.
"All in all it has been a great week, and we have no complaints at all."