Finally????????????
- Thread starter Halldan1
- Start date
I hope to see a Triple Crown winner in my lifetime but I'm not holding my breath. The Belmont Stakes is roughly a quarter-mile longer than the other two races. The Derby and Preakness typically come down to the wire and if the race were just a few lengths longer, there are two or three other horses who have a shot at winning easily.The Belmont Stakes is like asking Usain Bolt to run, and win handily, the 150 or 300m race rather than his bread and butter 100m. He could probably do it but there are athletes built for the longer races.
Hope I'm wrong.
Hope I'm wrong.
When I was a kid, I thought the Triple Crown happened all the time with Secretariat, Affirmed and Seattle Slew winning in the 70's. There was also a horse named Alydar who was probably the fourth best horse ever in the past 40 years. Unfortunately he lost every race to Affirmed but just barely. I always rooted for Alydar but he just could not beat Affirmed after racing neck and neck for these three races.
There were other horses I just loved who I thought we're going to win it like Smarty Jones, Big Brown and the tragic Barbaro. I don't feel it for this horse which means he will probably win it. In any event, it will be great to see.
There were other horses I just loved who I thought we're going to win it like Smarty Jones, Big Brown and the tragic Barbaro. I don't feel it for this horse which means he will probably win it. In any event, it will be great to see.
Given that AP has not been pushed in any of these races my sense is he wins unless he goes to sleep on the front in an 8 horse field. Only one I see perhaps nipping him is Verve ala Pass Catcher catching Cannonaro II some time ago. A mostly MSW horse though taking out a multi stakes winner would be beyond a long shot but the winning time in the KD was not super either. So, does AP look good because he really is or is the level competition below those of past triple crown winners? Cal Chrome looked unbeatable too!
Judging from the last few horses going for the triple crown, I will assume AP does not do it. Superfecta of keen ice, mubtaahij, AP and rotate Materiality and Frosted.
I like Materiality to win.
Velazquez rode him to three wins in mile or more races prior to the KyD. For the KyD he had a different jockey. Looking at the replay of KyD, Materiality made a charge as he turned the corner from the back to the six position and was still gaining. I am thinking Velazquez knows the horse better. Belmont Stake is one of the races where the Jockey has a bigger say in outcomes than shorter races.
Velazquez has ridden to Belmont Stakes victoires previouly. H eknows the Stakes and the track.
Materiality was sired by Afleet-Alex, a Belmont Stakes winner.
Then again, it's a horse race. Who knows?
Florida Derby Win:
Velazquez rode him to three wins in mile or more races prior to the KyD. For the KyD he had a different jockey. Looking at the replay of KyD, Materiality made a charge as he turned the corner from the back to the six position and was still gaining. I am thinking Velazquez knows the horse better. Belmont Stake is one of the races where the Jockey has a bigger say in outcomes than shorter races.
Velazquez has ridden to Belmont Stakes victoires previouly. H eknows the Stakes and the track.
Materiality was sired by Afleet-Alex, a Belmont Stakes winner.
Then again, it's a horse race. Who knows?
Florida Derby Win:
American Pharoah's odds are great considering this is something that hasn't happened in nearly 40 years. If you're betting, you have to roll with him even though he'll be one of the least impressive Triple Crown winners ever.
Then again, part of me strongly agrees with Pirata here. The way I see it, I like either Madefromlucky or Materiality or else American Pharoah by a very slim margin.
My guts telling me Lucky or Materiality though. Not buying the 3/5 favorite.
My guts telling me Lucky or Materiality though. Not buying the 3/5 favorite.
Really good race to watch. We were out with friends for dinner and as the time for the race came most of the men in the dining area walked over to the bar to watch the race along with some of the women. The crowd quickly got into the race and cheering on AP and I must admit for a non-racing fan I got into the race as well.
being born in 1982, never had seen this feat, now feel somewhat complete for my sports watching; many close calls, glad victor got him out and to the lead; would be awesome for monmouth to get this horse to the haskell
a horse is not an athlete in this sense? secretariat was even a top 50 athlete by the espn thing at the turn of the century
Since when are athletes only human. I guess you have never been near a well conditioned thoroughbred and see their muscular physiques. I also gather you have never looked at a jockey whose conditioned to ride and control these thoroughbreds. Their arm strength is amazing. But then again you probably think that race car drivers are not athletes. Heck what is so hard about driving a car at high speeds around many turns.
Really can't agree with the above.
Second fastest time ever for a Triple Crown Winner. This horse is special. Won the Preakness and Belmont Stakes with ease going away.
"Well conditioned" thoroughbreds don't choose to compete. They are forced into it by horse owners seeking their own personal glory. To suggest that you don't have to be human to be an athlete is ridiculous. Also, just using one's arm strength doesn't mean you are competing in a sport. Is working at a construction site or loading a truck a sport?
As a former competitor in equestrian SPORT, you need much more than arm strength. You need balance, core strength, leg strength, calm nerves, the ability to communicate with another being who might not have the same ideas you do about where you are going and how fast, and you need a mind for strategy.
Great horse and a great race,but if he ran the same time against Secretariat he would have been 15 lengths behind.Doesn't diminish his Triple just shows you how great "Big Red" was,the best ever.
I had the pleasure of meeting the great Laffit Pincay jr. He was as finely tuned athlete as you would ever meet. Imagine guiding a 1000 lb. animal running at 45 mph around turns. I am guessing that it takes great inner leg strength to grip the animal to do the weight shifts etc.
According to the Oxford Dictionary- Sport is an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment. In horse racing a horse and its jockey(team) competes against other horses and jockeys (teams) to run a race (physical exertion and skill ) to the entertainment of the public. So by the definition horse racing is a sport!
It was a beautiful theory. Luckily I did not put any money on it.
Regarding the attempt by some to hijack this thread into a condemnation of horse racing and a debate on the definition of sport, give it a rest, take a breath, take a valium, geez.
Regarding the attempt by some to hijack this thread into a condemnation of horse racing and a debate on the definition of sport, give it a rest, take a breath, take a valium, geez.
Two of my daughters competed in college on their equestrian teams. If you think it's just arm strength you're misinformed. They do a lot of weight training and leg strength, balance is critical to control the horse. Everyone's definition of sport is a bit different but it is recognized as an inter-collegiate sport by the NCAA and IHSA, so that works for me.
Where American Pharoah ranks among Triple Crown winners
BY Jerry Bossert
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Bryan R. Smith/for New York Daily News
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah with trainer Bob Baffert at Belmont Park.
With American Pharoah finally becoming horse racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner, where does he rank amongst racing’s immortals?
1. Secretariat (1973) – Big Red won 16 of 21 races in his career and holds the world-record of 2:24 when winning the Belmont Stakes in 1973, a full two seconds faster than any other Belmont run.
2. Citation (1948) – Won 19 of 20 starts in 1948 when he swept the Triple Crown and became racing’s first millionaire in 1951.
RELATED: AFFIRMED JOCKEY WATCHES AMERICAN PHAROAH FROM STANDS
3. Count Fleet (1943) – Won the Belmont Stakes by a record 25 lengths, until Secretariat broke the mark winning by 31 lengths.
4. Seattle Slew (1977) – Is the only horse to win the Triple Crown with an undefeated record.
American Pharoah Wins Belmont Stakes to Become First Triple Crown Winner Since Affirmed in 1978
NY Daily News
5. American Pharoah (2015) – Beat the most horses, 17, in the Derby before going on to capture the Triple Crown.
6. War Admiral (1937) – Won 21 of 26 career starts but is best known for losing to Seabiscuit in the 1938 match race.
7. Whirlaway (1941) – Raced 60 times in his, the most of any Triple Crown winner, winning 32 times. Is the only Triple Crown winner to also win the Travers.
Bryan R. Smith /Bryan R. Smith
American Pharoah.
8. Affirmed (1978) – Won 22 of 29 career starts but finished behind Seattle Slew the two times they met.
9. Assault (1946) – Defeated 31 other horses when he swept the Crown, the most until American Pharoah tied him this year.
10. Gallant Fox (1930) – Won the Preakness Stakes first when it was run eight days before the Derby, winning the first official “Triple Crown."
11. Omaha (1935) – Only won 9 of 22 career starts but was the first son of a Triple Crown winner, Gallant Fox.
12. Sir Barton (1919) – Won the Triple Crown before it was even called that.
View Gallery American Pharoah is a Triple Crown winner after Belmont romp
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/m...-ranks-triple-crown-winners-article-1.2249712
BY Jerry Bossert
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Bryan R. Smith/for New York Daily News
Triple Crown winner American Pharoah with trainer Bob Baffert at Belmont Park.
With American Pharoah finally becoming horse racing’s 12th Triple Crown winner, where does he rank amongst racing’s immortals?
1. Secretariat (1973) – Big Red won 16 of 21 races in his career and holds the world-record of 2:24 when winning the Belmont Stakes in 1973, a full two seconds faster than any other Belmont run.
2. Citation (1948) – Won 19 of 20 starts in 1948 when he swept the Triple Crown and became racing’s first millionaire in 1951.
RELATED: AFFIRMED JOCKEY WATCHES AMERICAN PHAROAH FROM STANDS
3. Count Fleet (1943) – Won the Belmont Stakes by a record 25 lengths, until Secretariat broke the mark winning by 31 lengths.
4. Seattle Slew (1977) – Is the only horse to win the Triple Crown with an undefeated record.
American Pharoah Wins Belmont Stakes to Become First Triple Crown Winner Since Affirmed in 1978
NY Daily News
5. American Pharoah (2015) – Beat the most horses, 17, in the Derby before going on to capture the Triple Crown.
6. War Admiral (1937) – Won 21 of 26 career starts but is best known for losing to Seabiscuit in the 1938 match race.
7. Whirlaway (1941) – Raced 60 times in his, the most of any Triple Crown winner, winning 32 times. Is the only Triple Crown winner to also win the Travers.
American Pharoah.
8. Affirmed (1978) – Won 22 of 29 career starts but finished behind Seattle Slew the two times they met.
9. Assault (1946) – Defeated 31 other horses when he swept the Crown, the most until American Pharoah tied him this year.
10. Gallant Fox (1930) – Won the Preakness Stakes first when it was run eight days before the Derby, winning the first official “Triple Crown."
11. Omaha (1935) – Only won 9 of 22 career starts but was the first son of a Triple Crown winner, Gallant Fox.
12. Sir Barton (1919) – Won the Triple Crown before it was even called that.
View Gallery American Pharoah is a Triple Crown winner after Belmont romp
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/m...-ranks-triple-crown-winners-article-1.2249712
Darren Rovell @darrenrovell 20h20 hours agoMore than 90,000 American Pharoah $2 win bets have gone uncashed http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/13037178/american-pharoah-bettors-leave-315829-belmont-stakes…
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