Not a big follower of the horses, so I ask this question?

[Dr. Jack]

I see 10 other horses have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown since the last Triple Crown winner.

Were most of those horses as dominant as Big Brown?

I know there was a lot of hype with some others but just wondering if Brown is really that special or did the other 10 receive as much hype?

[smitch124]

This question peaked my interest.... so I wanted to see how much those horses won by and what odds they went off at in the first 2 races...

1979 - Spectacular Bid - Kentucky Derby 2 3/4 lengths @ 3/5, Preakness 5 1/2 Lengths @ 1/10

1981 - Pleasant Colony - KD - 3/4 length @ 7/2 Pr 1 length @ 3-2


1987 - Alysheba - KD - 3/4 length @ 8-1 Pr 1/2 length @ 2-1

1989 - Sunday Silence - KD - 2 1/2 lengths @ 2-1 Pr nose @ 2-1

1997 - Silver Charm - KD - Head @ 4-1 Pr Head @ 3-1

1998 - Real Quiet - KD - 1/2 length @ 8-1 Pr 2 1/4 lenghts @ 5-2

1999 - Charismatic - KD - neck @ 31-1 Pr 1 1/2 lengths @ 8-1

2002 - War Emblem - KD - 4 lengths @ 20-1 Pr 3/4 length @ 3-1

2003 - Funny Cide - KD - 1 3/4 lengths @ 13-1 Pr 9 3/4 lengths @ 2-1

2004 - Smarty Jones - KD - 2 3/4 lengths @ 4-1 Pr 11 1/2 lengths @ 7-10

2008 - Big Brown - KD - 4 3/4 lengths @ 5-2 Pr 5 lengths @ 1-5

[smitch124]

Spectacular Bid won the Preakness by 5.5 lengths at 1-10, there must've been some hype then, I don't remember personally...but I don't think the public was yearning for a triple crown winner then as now (there were several in the 70s)

[smitch124]

Spectacular Bid finished 3rd in the 1979 Belmont Stakes at 3-10 odds getting passed in the stretch by Coastal.

[smitch124]

Funny Cide in 2003 after winning the Preakness by 9 3/4 lengths was even money at the Belmont, finished 3rd in the slop.

[smitch124]

Smarty Jones in 2004 was a 2-5 favorite in the Belmonts Stakes after cruising to an 11 1/2 length win in the Preakness. He got a ton of pace pressure early, slowly got worn down in the stretch by Birdstone, lost by a length, his 1st career loss...and we wait some more for a Triple Crown winner.

[jim1701]

Dutrow already disclaimed he gives roids to the horse on the 15th...although the roid is legal...to me it is a clear and distinct advantage over the other horses. Maybe this triple crown winner will be the Barry Bonds of horses!

[quaterdog]

If anyone on the board is old enough to remember, does anyone recall if Secretariat went off at 7-2 in each one of the big three races?

[smitch124]

For Secretariat in 1973:

Kentucky Derby: 3-2
Preakness: 3-10
Belmont: 1-10

[Dr. Jack]

Good stuff smitch

[smitch124]

Thanks Jack, to answer your question I think Smarty Jones was pretty close hype wise...but I think Big Brown is the better horse and has the best chance.

[Dr. Jack]

Originally Posted by smitch124

Thanks Jack, to answer your question I think Smarty Jones was pretty close hype wise...but I think Big Brown is the better horse and has the best chance.

[Wabash Wonders]

I think most remember the hype about Smarty Jones since it was only 4 years ago. I thought he went off at 1-9 in the Belmont but Smitch could be right at 2-5. I just remember him being a huge favorite and I had all kinds of trifectas going with him in all of them. Luckily one was a $2 trifecta box that included Birdstone, Smarty Jones and Royal Assault for a payout of over $1600.

To me the scenario this year is similar to 4 years ago. The horses are totally different except for the fact that BB will be undefeated and the same type of favorite that Smarty Jones was 4 years ago and we know what happened then. I dont think there is a 3 year old that is better than Big Brown, but the best horse doesnt always win...

[skippy]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jack

I see 10 other horses have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown since the last Triple Crown winner.

Were most of those horses as dominant as Big Brown?

I know there was a lot of hype with some others but just wondering if Brown is really that special or did the other 10 receive as much hype?

Some years, a horse just outclasses the field.....ala Secretariat.

Other years, a horse is just a bit better than its closest challenger.....where the WIN and PLACE orders could've been reversed and no one would be surprised.

This year.....there is no challenger to Big Brown. Chalk it up to a weak 3 year old division.

[Rhino8266]

I agree with skippy that this years 3 yr old division is just generally weak. Last year we had Street Sense, Curlin, and Hard Spun among a few others that competed hard with each other for all the big money. I'm not going to say Big Brown wouldn't stand a chance against these horses or vice versa but, he truly is a dominant horse among this years 3 yr olds. His calm demeanor and his great jockey seem to allow him to run any type race that is needed (i.e. the patience he showed in the preakness). Had Smarty Jones had a jockey of the caliber of Desormeaux he most likely would have taken the Triple Crown. Watch his Belmont race on youtube and see the way Bailey sacrifices Eddington to challenge Stewart Elliot and Smarty Jones for the lead. Had Elliot known better he would have just sat back, let Eddington run wild for the lead, and then would have focused on the stretch (Eddington eventually died and Birdstone would suck Smarty Jones up at the wire). But to answer your question Dr. Jack, as far as just winning the Triple Crown is concerned, yes, Big Brown deserves every bit of the hype he is getting. There is only one horse that can possibly beat him in the Belmont (Casino Ran) and to call that horse "unproven" would be a huge understatement as he's only ran 2 races. We'll if Casino Drive is worth what was paid for him. He was purchased for over $1 million more than Big Brown was at the same auction.