American Pharoah tries to become king of racing

It's been 37 years since a horse has won racing's most coveted price, the Triple Crown. But that could change Saturday as American Pharoah races for the record books at Belmont Park on Long Island, New York. The owners of this horse say he's got what it takes to claim the ultimate trifecta, CBS News' Michelle Miller reports.

To co-owner Justin Zayat, American Pharoah is a champion without all the bluster.

"He's as sweet as a horse you'll ever come by," Zayat said. "You could bring kids up to him, and he'll just put his head on them. He knows who he is. I call him a humble champion."

That's off the track. On the course, riding a six-race win streak, the 3-year-old colt has blown away the competition.

Take his last showing at the Preakness or the day America took notice of him at Churchill Downs. For Zayat, it was a winning day, though he lost his lunch.

"I was emotional. What do you expect?" Zayat said. "I can't expect to win the Kentucky Derby; I didn't know how I would feel. I always feel so sick after these races, like they take so much out of you, your energy, and after I have a knot in my stomach and it happened, came up."

Now, American Pharoah must conquer the Belmont Stakes. At 1.5 miles, it's the longest of the Triple Crown events. Despite that fact, Zayat is more excited than nervous.

"We've been on this ride, it's been five weeks, it's been unbelievable for the whole entire family," Zayat said.

The family business, Zayat Stables, is now more than a decade old and was started by Zayat's Egyptian-born father Ahmed. The New York Times described him as "one of the most successful and flamboyant owners in thoroughbred racing." But there have been legal troubles, including a Chapter 11 re-organization and a lawsuit over unpaid gambling debts, which were dismissed this week.

"It's been a distraction," Zayat said. "I don't think it's fair to my dad. These should be the best weeks of his life, the best moments of his life. People just want to take someone out of their high moment, but we're not going to allow that, you know."

Their focus, Zayat said, is on American Pharoah, their home-bred thoroughbred.

"We'll know at the beginning of the race towards the first couple of seconds," Zayat said. "Depends on how the break goes. The break's crucial. If he puts those ears up and he's doing it easily, I mean that's a signature move, and he starts looking around, he's having fun there."

The winner of this race takes home $1.5 million. Zayat says if American Pharoah claims that prize he will be retired. And as is the prerogative of every champion stallion, expect him to collect on some hefty stud fees. The Zayats claim they've been offered north of $20 million for Pharoah's breeding rights.