In Review of History

As we all know, American Pharoah became the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Triple Crown.  Ending a 3 year drought brought about by 13 previous horses who were unable to end the streak.  This, however, was not Spectacular Bid, Pleasant Colony, Alysheba or Sunday Silence's fault.  Altug none of these horses won the Triple Crown, it would have made the feat less special.  The streak in my estimation really started in the late 90's.  In 1997, Silver Charm arrived in Belmont, trying to stop the then 19 year streak of no Triple Crown.  However, he was defeated by a great ride for the Belmont winner Victory Gallop.  In 1998, Real Quiet had a chance to win the Triple Crown, however, he was not a truly special horse.  He lost by only a nose but he was not a great horse.  He did nothing much both before and after the Derby and Preakness.  In 1999, the third year in a row with a chance, Charismatic was brought to New York by D. Wayne Lucas with a chance to win thee Triple Crown.  However, the long trek of the Triple Crown crippled him down the stretch.  In 2000, Fusaichi Pegasus became the first favorite to win the Derby in about 20 years. But, he faltered in the Preakness.  Point Given was set to show his greatness in 2001, but a blistering pace in the Derby caused him to falter.  He proved his worth in the Preakness and Belmont.  In 2002, front running War Emblem won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, but was not versatile enough to win the Belmont after a poor start.  In 2003, a gelding gave it a try, and upset Bobby Frankel's two horses, Peace Rules and Empire Maker, in the Derby and won by nine lengths in the Preakness, but was too eager, going to the lead in the Belmont that undid his bid for a Triple Crown.  In 2004, it was the Philly Flyer, Smarty Jones, who put in a bid, he won the Derby impressively and romped to an 11 length victory in the Preakness but was too impatient and made his move too early at Belmont.  In 2005, Afleet Alex came close in the Derby and with dramatic flair won both the Preakness and the Belmont.  But a fast paced crowded Derby hurt his chances for the Triple Crown.  In 2006, Barbaro looked like a super horse until he shattered his leg just seconds after the start of the Belmont.  2007 did not have a super horse, it was made up of great races with different contenders.  2008, Big Brown gave horse racing hope once again.  His name seemed like that of a Triple crow winner, he won both the Derby and Preakness in impressive fashion.  But he just didn't have the stamina in the Belmont.  Three years would go by until another true contender, but once again, the duration of the Triple Crown knocked I'll Have Another out of the Triple Crown before the Belmont even happened.  In 2013, Orb was favored in all three Triple Crown races, and yet only won one of them.  California Chrome was the underdog horse from California, bred for next to nothing, and yet he won the first two legs of the Triple Crown as well.  He too did not have the stamina.  What I have laid out should show you not just the winners of the first two Triple Crown races, who faltered in the Belmont who are were at fault, it was all the "great" horses who weren't actually great.  Fusaichi Pegasus, Point Given, Orb.   I place just as much blame for the drought on these horses as I do on Smarty Jones, Big Brown and California Chrome.  Luckily, the drought has been ended by the horse with the misspelled name and the shortened tale who ended the 37 years of disappointment.   He truly was a great horse.  He deserves all the accolades and all the prizes.