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Originally Posted by Kasept
Hadn't had the opp to chime in here and haven't read the whole thread, but it would seem pretty clear that Smarty Jones was by far closer to winning a crown than Afleet Alex.
While I consider any dual Classic winner who didn't win the third a "near miss", it's harder to make cases for those that don't win the Derby or Preakness than those that win the first two legs. Without the pressure of the three week lead-up to the Belmont, or even the pressure of going into the Preakness as the Derby winner, it's difficult to know how trainer and jock react. You also don't know who might have lined up in the races with different outcomes, etc.. The scenario of going into the Preakness with a Derby-winning Alex is totally different than that of them going in off the near miss at Louisville, etc..
Smarty Jones was yards away from a crown and would certainly have been a winner under a slightly revised race script that gets Elliott to avoid the harassment of Solis and Bailey so early and so long.
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I actually like both horses and I understand what you are saying about going into the belmont. I was looking on the three races as a whole not as one then another, then the last one.
I guess AA's ability to get back up and win impressed me more. (Not that I am a dimwit and think he would have won by 20) He reminded me of Alysheba in the derby that day and I guess it stuck in my head.
I would though agree with anyone that REAL QUIET should be the one who has come the closest to winning the triple crown. He is my fave anyway.
And by the way, don't think I wasn't mad at how Solis rode in that Belmont!!!!
I was very upset when Gary didn't come back to ride him. I knew then that he wasn't going to win, but I didn't expect that kind of ride from Solis.