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PHOTO GALLERY: American Pharoah’s path to Triple Crown try

FILE - In this Tuesday, June 2, 2015, file photo, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner American Pharoah pauses as he is led around the barn by trainer Bob Baffert after arriving at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. American Pharoah will try to become horse racing's 12th Triple Crown winner and first since Affirmed in 1978 when he runs in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File0 FILE - In this Tuesday, June 2, 2015, file photo, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner American Pharoah pauses as he is led around the barn by trainer Bob Baffert after arriving at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. American Pharoah will try to become horse racing's 12th Triple Crown winner and first since Affirmed in 1978 when he runs in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File0

By Associated Press June 4, 2015 1 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – American Pharoah could make racing history Saturday if the horse becomes the first since 1978 to capture a Triple Crown.

The product of sire Pioneerof the Nile and dam Littleprincessemma, he has a backstory full of quirks.

His tail is short because it was chewed off by another horse in a barn. He’s worn cotton and ear plugs because he’s sensitive to sound. That misspelled moniker? It’s there for keeps, because it wasn’t noticed until too late.

From farms in Kentucky to horse racing’s biggest stage, watch as American Pharoah grew into a Triple Crown contender.