By Andy Villanueva
Victor Espinoza has another shot. His third attempt at racing’s immortality.
Last year, California Chrome and Espinoza looked to be the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. Instead, Tonalist benefitted from not running in the Kentucky Derby or Preakness to get up in time to beat Chrome.
Now American Pharaoh is next in line to either finally give horse racing the shot in the arm it needs or return it to the back burner of American consciousness.
In 36 years since the last Triple Crown winner, 13 prior to Pharoah have been close to racing’s immortality only to fall short or not even run.
In 1979, Spectacular Bid looked as though he would be the third consecutive Triple Crown winner. Only to have a safety pin the morning of the Belmont. The hopes of Bud Delp and Ronnie Franklin were thwarted by Coastal. Whether it was the safety pin or Franklin’s eagerness to get the lead in the backstretch, Spectacular Bid finished third.
Pleasant Colony (1981) became the next horse to experience heart break. Many believe that his tantrum at the starting gate cost him the race. In the mud, Jorge Velasquez was able to get a very tired Pleasant Colony to third.
It took six years after Pleasant Colony’s attempt for another horse to get close to the Triple Crown. Alysheba looked to be the best chance for breaking the nine year drought. Bet Twice got the jump on a boxed-in Alysheba to win the Belmont by 14-lengths.
Two years later, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer continued their rivalry. Silence had defeated the regally bred Easy Goer in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and looked to give Pat Valenzuela a Triple Crown win. Instead, Valenzuela moved too soon on Sunday Silence and Pat Day made a timely run to dash the hopes of horse racing fans.
In back to back years, Baffert came within yards of winning the Triple Crown. In 1997, Silver Charm ran a huge race to lose to Touch Gold. In 1998, Real Quiet came within strides of losing to Victory Gallop.
Charismatic became the darling of the horse racing world in 1999. The former $50,000 claimer went on to win the Derby and Preakness and had the lead before being pulled up by Chris Antley after breaking down inside the eighth-pole.
Baffert’s next attempt at the Triple Crown came in 2002, but was lost quickly as War Emblem and Espinoza stumbled out of the gate and could never get to the lead.
Six years later, Funny Cide was on his way to immortality only to have a fresh Empire Maker blow by him. Funny Cide was rank throughout the race and Jose Santos did everything he could to reign him in.
Then one year later, the “fan’s horse” Smarty Jones with Stewart Elliot aboard looked like a winner with just three furlongs remaining. Edgar Prado and Birdstone came flying late to surge past inside the final yards to extend the Crown drought to 26 years.
Da’Tara ruined Big Brown’s bid for the Triple Crown at 38-1. IEAH Stables and Rick Dutrow would later fine fame in a negative light as IEAH stables ended up going broke and Dutrow has been suspended since 2013 and will not be eligible for a trainer’s license until 2023. Dutrow has 72 suspensions or fines.
In 2012, I’ll Have Another never got to the starting gate.
So now comes American Pharaoh’s attempt for racing’s “Holy Grail.” Will it end in infamy or be another never-was moments.
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