Big Brown Triple Crown

Big Brown demolished 11 rivals Saturday afternoon at Pimlico in the 133rd Preakness and now will return to New York in hopes of becoming Thoroughbred racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner when he goes to post in the 140th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at Belmont Park, Elmont, N.Y.

Owned by IEAH Stable and Paul Pompa Jr., the Boundary colt will hope to be the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 when he goes in the 1 ½-mile Belmont Stakes, the “Test of the Champion” that is the oldest and longest leg of the Triple Crown.”
Not only is this the 30th anniversary of Affirmed’s Triple Crown, but the 60th of Citation’s Triple Crown in 1948.

Although Big Brown easily won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the Belmont Stakes looms ahead and it has thwarted 18 others who sought the Triple Crown. Those were:

1944 – Pensive
1958 – Tim Tam
1961 – Carry Back
1964 – Northern Dancer
1966 – Kauai King
1968 – Forward Pass
1969 – Majestic Prince
1971 – Canonero II
1979 – Spectacular Bid
1981 – Pleasant Colony
1987 – Alysheba
1989 – Sunday Silence
1997 – Silver Charm
1998 – Real Quiet
1999 – Charismatic
2002 – War Emblem
2003 – Funny Cide
2004 – Smarty Jones

RACING’S TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS:
Sir Barton, 1919
Assault, 1946
Gallant Fox, 1930
Omaha, 1935
Citation, 1948
Secretariat, 1973
War Admiral, 1937
Seattle Slew, 1977
Whirlaway, 1941
Affirmed, 1978
Count Fleet, 1943