The Closest To A Triple Crown Since 1978

[RollerDoc]

So much has been made (not necessarily by this group) of 3 races in 5 weeks vs. fresh horses vs. the mile and a half distance at The Belmont and thus no TC winner in nearly 4 decades.

While several of the 15 TC possibles were so close since Affirmed was last to win it, the fact remains that The Triple Crown of horse racing remains arguably the most elusive title in all of sports (if you take the Chicago Cubs out of the equation).

My question is which horse in your opinion that ran in all three TC races came the closest to winning it since 1978? I think obvious answers are Real Quiet and Smarty Jones. But I have a different selection and no for the first time ever I won't mention Big Brown in a thread. Oh wait, I just did LOL.

But my actual pick in this scenario is Afleet Alex in 2005. Consider that his jockey took the blame for the Derby loss because he gave him such a bad trip yet still came in 3rd by only 1 1/2 lengths. So ok a loss is a loss and no chance at a TC even before Pimlico.

The combined athleticism by jockey (Jeremy Rose) and horse, Afleet Alex was nothing short of amazing at The Preakness after clipping heels with Scrappy T right before the top of the stretch, only to overcome disaster with a convincing win was nothing short of incredible.

Afleet Alex's performance in The Belmont was even more dominant and one for the ages with a runaway victory of which we haven't seen such a convincing Belmont Stakes win since. So my entry to the question is Afleet Alex. What's yours?

[Indian Charlie]

I'll have another

[DaTruth]

Spectacular Bid has to top the list. You can't say he wasn't good enough to win it or undeserving of it.

Risen Star probably won have the Derby if Eddie D had not taken the overland route. I know jockeys don't want to get stopped if they are riding a live closer, but he went ridiculously wide that day.

[keithting]

I have always thought that Spectacular Bid was the best of the near triple crown winners.....

Point Given

[LARHAGE]

I second The Bid, he was better than Point Given, easily.

[MLC]

With a triple crown on the line in the Belmont, absolutely Spectacular Bid with Smarty Jones a close second choice.

[dellinger63]

Silver Charm (but I may be a little biased )

[FATPIANO]

The one and only "SPECTACULAR BID", close, but no cigar..Smarty Jones, Point Given, Afleet Alex and Risen Star,

[Alabama Stakes]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

I second The Bid, he was better than Point Given, easily.

as mighty as point Given was, don't embarass him by comparing him with The Bid. Hard to believe any hoss ever could beat him going 9 furlongs

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

Silver Charm (but I may be a little biased )

Really?

I would rank him as the least likely to win the TC going towards the Belmont.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

Really?

I would rank him as the least likely to win the TC going towards the Belmont.

Yet he came the closest.

Was good friends with his groom hence the admitted bias.

[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.