As I mention last week, this will be the 12th attempt since the last time there was a Triple Crown champion. It's been 34 years (1978) since the epic battle between Alydar and the Triple Crown champion; Affirmed. The year after (1979) the only time there was back-to-back consecutive Triple Crown champions (Seattle Slew 1977 & Affirmed 1978) one of the greatest horses; Spectacular Bid couldn't get the job done in attempting to be a Triple Crown - triple winner. The next year, he would be the last "walk over" winner in a major American graded stake race (faced no opponents). Some say; that if the great "Bid" couldn't accomplish this feat, no three year old horse would ever to it. Two years later in 1981, Pleasant Colony would come up short and the era of top thoroughbred horses from 1973 to 1981 would come to a close. These two attempts were before I followed the sport and I always felt that I missed out thoroughbred racing's best time of champions. So, this time will be the 10th opportunity for me to see a three year old runner to achieve the sport's Holy Grail.
Since 1987, four horses in a row that had a chance to do this feat were based in California. Alysheba came into the Belmont Stakes in 1987 without the benefit of racing with the anti-bleeding drug; Lasix. At the time, this medication was not allowed at NYRA tracks and played a major part why he couldn't accomplish this feat. Two year's later (1989) a "Affirmed / Alydar" like battle ensued between Sunday Silence and Easy Goer in the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Sunday Silence, trained by the legendary Charlie Whittingham got the best of his foe in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. But when Easy Goer was at his home track in New York; "Big Sandy" Belmont Park, he defeated the California based runner by many lengths. It would be eight years until another west coast runner would try for greatness.
Silver Charm was the first two legs winner in 1997 versus some tough competition like; Captain Bodgit, Free House and Touch Gold. With the same three horses finishing in the money in the first two legs, it would be the fourth place finisher in the Preakness that turned the tables on Silver Charm in the Belmont Stakes; Touch Gold. The next year was the closet we've seen in this rare feat being accomplished of a Triple Crown champion. In 1998, Real Quiet looked home free coming down the Belmont stretch. But, his nemesis Victory Gallop ran him down at the wire and the thirty year drought of no crown would continue.
The next five horses attempting this feat have been a mixed bag of horses that were; a former claimer, a speedy type, a gutsy gelding, a undefeated runner and a "wonder" horse. In 1999, Charismatic was the longshot winner of both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. In the Belmont, his attempt was gutsy even when he was injured late in the race coming up short at the finish. Bob Baffert returned in 2002 with the speedy War Emblem winning the first two legs. But, a bad start in the Belmont Stakes proved his undoing and eliminated him early in his Triple Crown bid try. The next two horses were easy to root for in their attempts to win the crown. Funny Cide, the gutsy NY bred gelding was superb in winning the first two legs. But, a well rested Empire Maker defeated him on a sloppy Belmont surface in 2003. The next year 2004, a undefeated Philadelphia based runner; Smarty Jones won the hearts of the racing world. But, those dreams would be shattered when his jockey; Stewart Elliott got outsmarted by his fellow jockeys and was passed by Birdstone late. He would no longer be undefeated and also would never race again.
But, with ALL the above horses mention, the last horse to try this in 2008, Big Brown was most disappointing and also (in my opinion) most overrated. That was a particular weak group of three year old runners and he stood out among this weak group. When it came to getting the job done in the Belmont Stakes, he never had the chance when his jockey; Kent Desormeaux pulled him up at the top of the stretch and was out of the race. This last attempt at the Triple Crown left a "bad taste" in my mouth and I vowed (at the time) that I would not see another horse win the Triple Crown. Next week, I'll reveal whether I have change my mind......or not.
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