Past time for American Pharoah to give us a Triple Crown sweep

I’m one of those weird people who actually enjoy spring cleaning. You just never know what gem you’re going to find hiding in a box stuffed in the corner of your closet.

This year’s find was made even more poignant when a Triple Crown sweep became possible with American Pharoah’s seven-length romp in the Preakness Stakes.

While going through some old binders, I came across one that contained all my memorabilia from when I was young and just getting into horse racing. Front and center were newspaper clippings of the 1989 Triple Crown season.

That happened to be my first experience with horse racing, and what an experience it was. Is there any better way to be introduced to this amazing sport than the rivalry between two great Hall of Famers like Sunday Silence and Easy Goer?

At first it was hard to choose a favorite. I’d always been partial to chestnuts, but also grew up devouring “The Black Stallion” series by Walter Farley.

In the end, one glance at Sunday Silence was all it took to hook me for life. Watching that lean, black colt weave back and forth to Kentucky Derby victory, and then battle with Easy Goer to triumph in the Preakness, was exhilarating.