Twelve horses have tried to become the 12th Triple Crown winner. Twelve horses have failed. Some valiantly. Some painfully. Some miserably.
We're going to take rank the Triple Crown misses since Affirmed turned the trick in 1978 from worst to the most painful losses.
2008 Big Brown
This had to be the biggest bust of all the burst Triple Crown dreams. Kent Desormeaux and Big Brown seemingly had to break from the gate in order to complete the trifecta. Well, they did and then everything went awry. As the 3-10 choice, Big Brown was eased, failing to finish in a race that saw Da' Tara, the longest shot on the board, go wire to wire at 38-1.
2012 I'll Have Another
First, there was the question of whether he would be able to use the nasal strip. That request was denied. However, I'll Have Another was entered in the Belmont, only to scratch on the eve of the race due to a leg injury.
If you would like to see how the race turned out, click here.
2002 War Emblem
1981 Pleasant Colony
Jorge Velasquez appeared to be ready to deliver a Triple Crown to New York trainer John Campo. Pleasant Colony was sent off at 4-5. He acted up at the gate, made a run into the turn but was unable to threaten eventual winner Summing.
2003 Funny Cide
Funny Cide has surprised in the Kentucky Derby and was rousing in winning the Preakness. However, the Belmont would be a far different result as trainer Bobby Frankel sent out the royally bred Empire Maker to turn the tables. Funny Cide finished third at even-money and Jerry Bailey rode Empire Maker to a 1¾-length victory as the 2-1 second choice.
1987 Alysheba
The regal Alysheba was seemingly a perfect fit for the Triple Crown fraternity. Under Chris McCarron he was sent off as the 4-5 favorite only to be blitzed by Craig Perret and Bet Twice, who roared to a 14-length victory at odds of 8-1.
1999 Charismatic
One of the most charming stories in the series was Charismatic's victories in the first two legs. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by Chris Antley, Charismatic was 1½ miles from history. It was not to be, however, as he was injured while finishing third to near 30-1 shot Lemon Drop Kid. The images of Antley protecting the injured Charismatic overshadowed the race.
1997 Silver Charm
There always seems to be a hot horse, one ready to run his best race and play spoiler. This was never more true than when Silver Charm looked to join the fraternity for trainer Bob Baffert. Touch Gold had been touted heavily leading into the race and he delivered, scoring by three-quarters of a length over Silver Charm.
1989 Sunday Silence
The classic East Coast-West Coast rivalry was on display in these races. Sunday Silence, trained by the venerable Charles Whittingham, got the best of Easy Goer, trained by Shug McGaughey, in the first two legs. However, the Belmont was in New York, Easy Goer's home, and he roared to a rousing eight-length victory under Pat Day.
1979 Spectacular Bid
There's no such thing as a sure thing, but Spectacular Bid came into the final leg of the Triple Crown as what seemed like a lock. Young jockey Ron Franklin came under criticism for his ride, trainer Bud Delp said after the race that Spectacular Bid had stepped on a safety pin in his stall. It all added up to a third-place finish, beaten 9½ lengths as the 3-10 favorite. Coastal won as the 4-1 second choice.
2004 Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones as sent off as the heavy choice in the race. He was ready for a coronation off two dazzling victories. The plan went awry as jockey Stewart Elliott was faulted for his race-riding strategy and Birdstone, a 36-1 shot, lit up the toteboard for a length victory.
1998 Real Quiet
This could be the most painful beat in all of horse racing, forget Triple Crown history. Sent off as the 4-5 favorite in a field of 11, Real Quiet opened up a four-length lead in the stretch. Triple Crown history was within the grasp of trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Kent Desormeaux. However, Gary Stevens had Victory Gallop rolling and he nailed Real Quiet on the line by the slimmest of noses.
