Crown Didn’t Fit These Horses Either

Since Spectacular Bid in 1979, five other horses have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but lost the Belmont and missed out on the Triple Crown. This is what happened to those five in the Belmont:

Pleasant Colony (1981)--Summing went to the front with six furlongs left and held off Highland Blade, who finished 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Pleasant Colony.

Alysheba (1987)--There was more than a Triple Crown, there was a $5-million payoff (including the winner’s purses from the three races) at stake if Alysheba won the Belmont. Bet Twice, second in both the Derby and Preakness, won by 14 lengths, with Alysheba running fourth. “I’m not proud of the way I rode Alysheba that day,” jockey Chris McCarron said. “But I didn’t cost him the race. Bet Twice was awesome. I made a mistake, but it wasn’t a 14-length mistake.”

Sunday Silence (1989)--Easy Goer was second in the Derby and Preakness, but he ran a 2:26 Belmont, at the time the second-fastest clocking for the race, as Sunday Silence finished second, beaten by eight lengths. Sunday Silence avenged the loss in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the fall and was voted horse of the year.

Silver Charm (1997)--Touch Gold, who stumbled badly in the Preakness and injured a hoof, was patched up for the Belmont, and he and McCarron rallied in the stretch to beat Silver Charm by three-quarters of a length. Bob Baffert, who trains Silver Charm, thought that if his colt had seen Touch Gold coming, he might have dug in and held on.

Real Quiet (1998)--Many thought that Kent Desormeaux, riding Real Quiet, made a premature move, but Baffert forgave him. Victory Gallop, second in the other two races, won by a nose in the last jump. Gary Stevens, who had been foiled while riding Silver Charm the year before, rode Victory Gallop.

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Failed at Belmont

Fourteen horses who lost at Belmont to miss the Triple Crown:

* 1944: Pensive, second, a half-length behind Bounding Home.

* 1958: Tim Tam, second, six lengths behind Cavan.

* 1961: Carry Back, seventh, 13 3/4 lengths behind Sherluck.

* 1964: Northern Dancer, third, six lengths behind Quadrangle.

* 1966: Kauai King, fourth, seven lengths behind Amberoid.

* 1968: Forward Pass, second, 1 3/4 lengths behind Stage Door Johnny.

* 1969: Majestic Prince, second, 5 1/4 lengths behind Arts And Letters.

* 1971: Canonero II, fourth, 4 1/4 lengths behind Pass Catcher.

* 1979: Spectacular Bid, third, 3 1/4 lengths behind Coastal.

* 1981: Pleasant Colony, third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Summing.

* 1987: Alysheba, fourth, 14 lengths behind Bet Twice.

* 1989: Sunday Silence, second, eight lengths behind Easy Goer.

* 1997: Silver Charm, second, three-quarters of a length to Touch Gold.

* 1998: Real Quiet, second, a nose behind Victory Gallop.