The Closest To A Triple Crown Since 1978

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

Yet he came the closest.

Was good friends with his groom hence the admitted bias.

He came the closest? Are you mixing up SC with Real Quiet the following year?

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

He came the closest? Are you mixing up SC with Real Quiet the following year?

I am. My bad!

[somerfrost]

The Bid, followed by Risen Star and Alex.

[RollerDoc]

I didn't frame the question up too articulately, but was not looking to compare near miss TC horses from different years, but rather best chance in their given year

[ghartman02]

In the Churchill Downs Gift Shop they had a picture of Giacamo's win. But it looked like Afleet Alex on the inside but it was because of the angle. Smarty was there, just got beat. Silver Charm had it, until Touch Gold which was an odd race Touch Gold was 2nd, drifted back and then charged home. Real Quiet, well, a nose was the difference and he may have been taken down. IMHO if American Pharoah doesn't win Saturday, I don't think I'll ever see a Triple Crown winner again.

[OTM Al]

Originally Posted by ghartman02

In the Churchill Downs Gift Shop they had a picture of Giacamo's win. But it looked like Afleet Alex on the inside but it was because of the angle. Smarty was there, just got beat. Silver Charm had it, until Touch Gold which was an odd race Touch Gold was 2nd, drifted back and then charged home. Real Quiet, well, a nose was the difference and he may have been taken down. IMHO if American Pharoah doesn't win Saturday, I don't think I'll ever see a Triple Crown winner again.

Rose dove Alex to the rail in deep stretch. I always wondered if that last move also cost him 2nd as the win was already blown.

[Thunder Gulch]

There are some great horses on the list, but this isn't close. It took Spectacular Bid's worst day to lose. There were various circumstances that prevented others, but none of them was in that class.

Of the others, I think it was Smarty Jones. He was a victim of a human mistake and a lifetime best from the victor, who was himself a top shelf horse in NY. Smarty was miles better in the Derby and Preakness, and he was second by a comfortable margin even after Elliot put him through ridiculous fractions in the middle of the race.

[Thunder Gulch]

Originally Posted by OTM Al

Rose dove Alex to the rail in deep stretch. I always wondered if that last move also cost him 2nd as the win was already blown.

I swear the rail was bad that weekend and Rose stayed inside too long, then when he got through, he went back to the right handed whip and Alex went back in.