A look at the 12 horses since 1978 to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown before losing the Belmont Stakes. Locally owned horse California Chrome aims to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Spectacular Bid, 1979
Spectacular Bid was looking to become the third Triple Crown winner in as many years, following Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978). After winning the first two legs, jockey Ron Franklin said it was "a cinch" they'd win the Belmont. Franklin took Spectacular Bid out too quickly and he faded, finishing third to Coastal. He was one of the best horses to never win the Triple Crown..
A look at the 12 horses since 1978 to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown before losing the Belmont Stakes. Locally owned horse California Chrome aims to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.
Spectacular Bid, 1979
Spectacular Bid was looking to become the third Triple Crown winner in as many years, following Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978). After winning the first two legs, jockey Ron Franklin said it was "a cinch" they'd win the Belmont. Franklin took Spectacular Bid out too quickly and he faded, finishing third to Coastal. He was one of the best horses to never win the Triple Crown..
Pleasant Colony, 1981
A gangly horse, Pleasant Colony held off a late charge by Woodchopper to win the Kentucky Derby before overtaking Bold Ego late in the Preakness Stakes to set up his Triple Crown shot. However, he came up short in the Belmont, finishing third behind Summing. Of the 13 horses to win the Derby and Preakness since 1978, Pleasant Colony is the only one with less than $1 million in earnings.
Pleasant Colony, 1981
A gangly horse, Pleasant Colony held off a late charge by Woodchopper to win the Kentucky Derby before overtaking Bold Ego late in the Preakness Stakes to set up his Triple Crown shot. However, he came up short in the Belmont, finishing third behind Summing. Of the 13 horses to win the Derby and Preakness since 1978, Pleasant Colony is the only one with less than $1 million in earnings.
Alysheba, 1987
As blue blood as it gets, the Kentucky-born Alysheba was purchased for $500,000 as a yearling. He lived up to the hype. Following surgery to a cartilage flap near the larynx in his 3-year-old season, Alysheba survived a strong bump in the Kentucky Derby to win and then took the Preakness. But the Belmont was a lopsided affair, with Bet Twice winning by 14 lengths. Alysheba was fourth.
Sunday Silence, 1989
Sunday Silence nearly died twice before rising to stardom, first from a freak virus as a weanling and later when the van carrying him flipped over after the driver had a heart attack. He became a great racehorse and won the first two legs of the Triple Crown before finishing second to Easy Goer at the Belmont, who ran the second-fastest Belmont time ever (it was his home track).
Alysheba, 1987
As blue blood as it gets, the Kentucky-born Alysheba was purchased for $500,000 as a yearling. He lived up to the hype. Following surgery to a cartilage flap near the larynx in his 3-year-old season, Alysheba survived a strong bump in the Kentucky Derby to win and then took the Preakness. But the Belmont was a lopsided affair, with Bet Twice winning by 14 lengths. Alysheba was fourth.
Sunday Silence, 1989
Sunday Silence nearly died twice before rising to stardom, first from a freak virus as a weanling and later when the van carrying him flipped over after the driver had a heart attack. He became a great racehorse and won the first two legs of the Triple Crown before finishing second to Easy Goer at the Belmont, who ran the second-fastest Belmont time ever (it was his home track).
Silver Charm, 1997
Silver Charm was legendary trainer Bob Baffert's first great horse. The Hall of Fame horse, known for his gray exterior, was purchased for $85,000. He ended up winning 12 races and nearly $7 million. Silver Charm won the Kentucky Derby by a neck before winning the Preakness in a photo finish. The luck ran out in the Belmont as he finished second to Touch Gold by half a length.
Real Quiet, 1998
Owned by local Mike Pegram and trained by Baffert, Real Quiet was purchased for $17,000 because of his crooked knees. It took seven races before his first win, but Real Quiet took off after that. After winning the Derby and Preakness, Real Quiet had a big lead in the Belmont before losing by 4 inches to Victory Gallop (the smallest margin of victory in Belmont history).
Silver Charm, 1997
Silver Charm was legendary trainer Bob Baffert's first great horse. The Hall of Fame horse, known for his gray exterior, was purchased for $85,000. He ended up winning 12 races and nearly $7 million. Silver Charm won the Kentucky Derby by a neck before winning the Preakness in a photo finish. The luck ran out in the Belmont as he finished second to Touch Gold by half a length.
Real Quiet, 1998
Owned by local Mike Pegram and trained by Baffert, Real Quiet was purchased for $17,000 because of his crooked knees. It took seven races before his first win, but Real Quiet took off after that. After winning the Derby and Preakness, Real Quiet had a big lead in the Belmont before losing by 4 inches to Victory Gallop (the smallest margin of victory in Belmont history).
Charismatic, 1999
A third-generation descendant of Secretariat, Charismatic won the Derby as a 31-1 long shot. Despite not being favored at the Preakness (he was an 8-1 shot), Charismatic won again, setting the stage for his Triple Crown bid. Charismatic took the lead into the final turn at Belmont before fading to finish third to Lemon Drop Kid. It was later learned Charismatic broke his leg during the race.
War Emblem, 2002
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, who is aiming for the Triple Crown atop California Chrome, War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby at 21-1 odds, giving Baffert his third Derby win in six years. After taking the Preakness, War Emblem stumbled out of the gates at the Belmont and nearly fell to his knees. He surged to the lead before fading to eighth behind winner Sarava, a 70-1 long shot.
Funny Cide, 2003
An underdog story, Funny Cide became the first New York-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby and first gelding (a castrated horse) to win the race since 1929. He dominated a wet track in the Preakness, winning by 9¾ lengths, the third-largest margin in the race's history. Running on his home track in the Belmont, Funny Cide finished third on a wet course, losing to rival Empire Maker.
Charismatic, 1999
A third-generation descendant of Secretariat, Charismatic won the Derby as a 31-1 long shot. Despite not being favored at the Preakness (he was an 8-1 shot), Charismatic won again, setting the stage for his Triple Crown bid. Charismatic took the lead into the final turn at Belmont before fading to finish third to Lemon Drop Kid. It was later learned Charismatic broke his leg during the race.
War Emblem, 2002
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, who is aiming for the Triple Crown atop California Chrome, War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby at 21-1 odds, giving Baffert his third Derby win in six years. After taking the Preakness, War Emblem stumbled out of the gates at the Belmont and nearly fell to his knees. He surged to the lead before fading to eighth behind winner Sarava, a 70-1 long shot.
Funny Cide, 2003
An underdog story, Funny Cide became the first New York-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby and first gelding (a castrated horse) to win the race since 1929. He dominated a wet track in the Preakness, winning by 9¾ lengths, the third-largest margin in the race's history. Running on his home track in the Belmont, Funny Cide finished third on a wet course, losing to rival Empire Maker.
Smarty Jones, 2004
Coming from a tragic background (his trainer, Bobby Camac, and Camac's wife were murdered by his stepson), Smarty Jones was a wildly popular horse. He was the first unbeaten horse to win the Derby since 1977 and then won the Preakness by a record 11½ lengths. A big favorite at the Belmont, he finished second to 36-1 long shot Birdstone (Smarty Jones' lone loss in 10 starts).
Big Brown, 2008
Named in honor of UPS, Big Brown was purchased for $190,000 and won his first five races. He won the Kentucky Derby by nearly five lengths and won again by five lengths in the Preakness, where he was a prohibitive favorite. Running in the Belmont with a crack in his left front hoof, Big Brown had to be eased off the course late and did not finish the race. It was his only loss in his eight races.
I'll Have Another, 2012
The most recent shot at the Triple Crown was staged by I'll Have Another, a Canadian-owned horse. I'll Have Another chased down favorite Bodemeister in the Kentucky Derby to win by 1½ lengths. He beat Bodemeister again in the Preakness with a late flurry to win by a neck. I'll Have Another was a late scratch at the Belmont with tendonitis.
Smarty Jones, 2004
Coming from a tragic background (his trainer, Bobby Camac, and Camac's wife were murdered by his stepson), Smarty Jones was a wildly popular horse. He was the first unbeaten horse to win the Derby since 1977 and then won the Preakness by a record 11½ lengths. A big favorite at the Belmont, he finished second to 36-1 long shot Birdstone (Smarty Jones' lone loss in 10 starts).
Big Brown, 2008
Named in honor of UPS, Big Brown was purchased for $190,000 and won his first five races. He won the Kentucky Derby by nearly five lengths and won again by five lengths in the Preakness, where he was a prohibitive favorite. Running in the Belmont with a crack in his left front hoof, Big Brown had to be eased off the course late and did not finish the race. It was his only loss in his eight races.
I'll Have Another, 2012
The most recent shot at the Triple Crown was staged by I'll Have Another, a Canadian-owned horse. I'll Have Another chased down favorite Bodemeister in the Kentucky Derby to win by 1½ lengths. He beat Bodemeister again in the Preakness with a late flurry to win by a neck. I'll Have Another was a late scratch at the Belmont with tendonitis.
At 5D, you can get California Chrome at +125. It's listed under other sports.
I saw this, I am not sure what to make of it .
Does anyone have his live odds?
At 5D, you can get California Chrome at +125. It's listed under other sports.
I saw this, I am not sure what to make of it .
Does anyone have his live odds?
TVG shows the current Belmont odds every 20 min. or so. Last I saw CC was 4-5, so good value at 5D if you like the Fav.
TVG shows the current Belmont odds every 20 min. or so. Last I saw CC was 4-5, so good value at 5D if you like the Fav.
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