Smarty Jones only missed sweeping the Triple Crown by a length in 2004, finishing second to Birdstone in the Belmont Stakes.
Updated: 05/27/2009
By: Robert Goldberg
We have all read about the horses that have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown only to fail in the Belmont Stakes. What does anyone really know about the horses that denied those Triple Crown attempts? Here is part of their story.
Big Brown (2008)
Trained by Richard Dutrow Jr.
June 7 - 10 entered in Belmont Stakes, 9 started after Casino Drive scratched -- Big Brown was sent off as a heavy 3-10 favorite off his spectacular wins in the Derby and Preakness. He broke awkwardly, tracked the leaders in 3rd early, but when asked to make his move he did not respond and was eased through the stretch and did not finish the race, making him the biggest disappointment of all the horses to ever try for the Triple Crown. 38-1 longshot Da'Tara, who did not run in either the Derby or Preakness and was coming off a 2nd place finish in the Barbaro Stakes (formerly the Sir Barton) on the Preakness undercard, took the lead at the start and never looked back, winning by 5-1/4 lengths.
Smarty Jones (2004)
Trained by John Servis
June 5 - 9 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Smarty was sent off as the 2-5 favorite and had the race won until deep stretch when 36-1 longshot Birdstone, who finished 8th in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness, rallied to catch him at the 1/16th pole and took the lead in the final 50 yards to win by a length. Birdstone only raced two more times after the Belmont, winning the Travers and finishing 7th in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Smarty Jones never raced again and was retired two months later due to chronic ankles problems.
Funny Cide (2003)
Trained by Barclay Tagg
June 7 - 6 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Only five rivals faced Funny Cide, and Kentucky Derby runner-up Empire Maker, who skipped the Preakness, won, with Funny Cide finishing third.
War Emblem (2002)
Trained by Bob Baffert
June 8 - 11 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Sarava, fresh off a win in the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard, upset War Emblem at 70-1 in the Belmont. War Emblem ran eighth, the worst finish ever for a Derby/Preakness winner in the Belmont until Big Brown in 2008.
Charismatic (1999)
Trained by D. Wayne Lukas
June 5 - 12 entered in Belmont Stakes - After placing 9th in the Kentucky Derby and finishing 3rd in the Peter Pan Stakes, Lemon Drop Kid won the Belmont and Charismatic finished third after falling to an injury.
Real Quiet
Real Quiet (1998)
Trained by Bob Baffert
June 6 - 11 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Up by four lengths at the eighth pole, Real Quiet lost by a stubborn nose to Derby/Preakness runner-up Victory Gallop.
Silver Charm (1997)
Trained by Bob Baffert
June 7 - 7 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Touch Gold finished fourth in the Preakness and came back to score a three-quarters of a length win over Silver Charm.
Sunday Silence (1989)
Trained by Charlie Whittingham
June 10 - 10 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Sunday Silence proved no match for Derby/Preakness runner-up Easy Goer once the latter got back to his home track in the Belmont.
Alysheba (1987)
Trained by Jack Van Berg
June 6 - 9 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Bet Twice, second in the Derby and Preakness, romped to a 14-length win as Alysheba finished fourth.
Pleasant Colony (1981)
Trained by John Campo
June 6 - 11 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Pleasant Colony ran third to winner Summing, who had won his maiden race over Pleasant Colony and came into the Belmont with wins on the turf in the Hill Prince Stakes and on the dirt in the Pennsylvania Derby.
Spectacular Bid (1979)
Trained by Bud Delp
June 9 - 8 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Spectacular Bid, 1-5 favorite, undone by a safety pin imbedded in a foot and a misjudged ride in the Belmont, finished third to winner Coastal, who scored an impressive win earlier in a 13-length romp in the Peter Pan Stakes.
Canonero II (1971)
Trained by Juan Arias
June 5 - 13 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Canonero led early, but finished fourth to longshot Pass Catcher, who came into the Belmont off a 2nd place finish in the Jersey Derby.
Majestic Prince
Majestic Prince (1969)
Trained by John Longden
June 7 - 6 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Majestic Prince fell victim to Derby/Preakness runner-up Arts and Letters, who showed enough spunk to win the Metropolitan Handicap in between the Preakness and Belmont. There were only six horses in the race, and Majestic Prince closed to second with an eighth-mile remaining, but he can't catch Arts And Letters and is beaten by five lengths.
Forward Pass (1968)
Trained by Henry Forest
June 1 - 9 entered in Belmont Stakes - Forward Pass leads until the eighth-pole and in what would have been the most controversial of all Triple Crown winners, Stage Door Johnny came into the Belmont by winning “the Peter Pan Purse” - an allowance race. He was one of the first colts to use the allowance as a springboard for the Belmont Stakes, and it became a stakes race thereafter.
Kauai King (1966)
Trained by Henry Forset
June 4 - 11 entered in Belmont Stakes -- In the lead with a quarter-mile remaining, Kauai King was ahead of 10- other horses, but faded fast and wound up seven lengths behind winner Amberoid. Amberoid came into the Belmont off a 7th place finish in the Kentucky Derby and a 3rd place finish in the Preakness.
Northern Dancer (1964)
Trained by Horatio Luro
June 6 - 8 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Northern Dancer is second in a nine-horse field with an eighth-mile remaining, but he finishes third behind Quadrangle. Quadrangle finished 5th in the Kentucky Derby and 4th in the Preakness.
Carry Back (1961)
Trained by J.A. Prince
June 3 - 9 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Carry Back never gets into contention and finishes seventh in a nine-horse field. He came across the wire 14 lengths behind winner Sherluck. Sherluck placed 5th in both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.
Tim Tam (1958)
Trained by H.A. Jones
June 7 - 8 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Cavan won this race easily and Tim Tam finished second by six lengths in an eight-horse field. Cavan was coming into the Belmont off a first place finish in the Peter Pan Stakes.
Pensive (1944)
Trained by Ben Jones
June 3 - 7 entered in Belmont Stakes -- Pensive leads with a quarter-mile remaining, but he loses by a half-length to Bounding Home. Pensive becomes the first to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown only to be bitten by the long run in New York. Bounding Home entered the Belmont off a second place finish in the Peter Pan Stakes.
Oxbow upsets in the Preakness - Oxbow led the entire way in the Preakness Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Pimlico with Itsmyluckyday second and Mylute third. Heavy favorite Orb made a mild move to finish fourth. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Preakness undercard stakes results - There were 7 other stakes on the card, highlighted by the Dixie Stakes (G2) won by Skyring and the Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (G3) won by Summer Applause. Get the results, charts, and photos for 6 of the races here.
Fiftyshadesofhay wins the Black-Eyed Susan - Fiftyshadesofhay just got up to win the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) on Friday at Pimlico by a neck over Marathon Lady with favorite Emollient 6th. On the undercard, Last Gunfighter won the Pimlico Special (G3). Get the results, charts, and photos here.
Analyzing the Preakness Stakes Contenders for 2013 - My annual analysis using popular angles and statistical trends to see who best matches the profile of a Preakness winner. The big surprise is that Kentucky Derby winner Orb is not in the top group!
Orb wins the Kentucky Derby - Orb was far back early but took the lead in the stretch and drew off to win the Kentucky Derby (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths over longshot Golden Soul and Revolutionary. Get the results, charts, and photos here.
More Kentucky Derby Photos - More photos from the day including more of Orb, the trophy, the roses, Martina McBride, and lots of mud.
Kentucky Derby undercard stakes results - There were 5 other stakes on Derby day including the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (G1) won by 2012 Horse of the Year Wise Dan and the Humana Distaff Stakes (G1) won by Aubby K. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 5 races here.
Princess of Sylmar upsets in the Kentucky Oaks - She rallied from far back to win the Kentucky Oaks by a half length over Beholder and Unlimited Budget, while favorite Dreaming of Julia was fourth. Get the results, chart, and photos here.
Kentucky Oaks undercard stakes results - There were 5 other stakes on Oaks day including the La Troienne Stakes (G2) won by Authenticity and the Alysheba Stakes (G3) won by Take Charge Indy. Get the results, charts, and photos for all 5 races here.
Wednesday Kentucky Derby Workout Photos - Photos and comments for 18 Derby horses, everyone on the grounds except the one in quarantine, and 6 Oaks fillies from this morning on the track.
Kentucky Oaks Entries - A field of 11 fillies will go, with Gulfstream Oaks winner Dreaming of Julia favorite at 3-1 from post 8. Get the post positions, odds, and free past performances here.
Top Kentucky Derby Contenders - my list of the top horses headed to the Derby with profiles for each with photos, stats, and link to more info like past performances and pedigree.
Analyzing the top 2013 Kentucky Derby contenders - My annual analysis of the top contenders to try and select a winner by matching each to the profile of a Kentucky Derby winner using many of the more popular angles and statistical trends. This year there were is a 3-way tie for the top spot: Goldencents, Normandy Invasion, and Overanalyze.
2013 Kentucky Derby And Oaks Security - New enhanced stricter rules will be enforced this year. Be sure to read the rules as many have changed and more things are banned. There will still be magnetic wand searches of all patrons and many things are no longer allowed. Check here to make sure you don't bring anything they will confiscate.
Review: Triple Crown Handicapper 2013 - by Jim Mazur. Includes lots of stats for all 3 races and explains how to use a system of statistically derived negative angles to eliminate the "bad" picks.
Review: Kentucky Derby Greatest Moments - Commemorative DVD from Churchill Downs with video from 27 different runnings along with interviews, photos, and historical info. Definitely recommended for any racing fan!
Review: Churchill Downs - America's Most Historic Racetrack by Kimberly Gatto. An entertaining and informative account of the history of the track and it's most famous race, the Kentucky Derby, with lots of photos. Definitely recommended.