Greg Melikov’s Horses to Watch

Thursday, May 4th, 2006 (Greg Melikov)

Will 2006 Finally Produce a Triple Crown Winner?

Six times since 1997 a horse has won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, bolstering expectations that the 12th Triple Crown winner would emerge.

Six times racing fans were denied the crowning achievement for 3-year-olds and were forced to utter that old Brooklyn Dodger phrase: Wait till next year.

Next year is here and the thoroughbred-racing world is holding its breath once again. The last Triple Crown was worn in ’78, the fourth time during the 1970s, when Affirmed defeated Alydar for third time in five weeks by a head in the Belmont Stakes.

The Belmont has proved the stumbling block to glory for during the past decade since Touch Gold edged Silver Charm by three-quarters of a length in ’97.

The next year Real Quiet was denied the accomplishment by a nose when Victory Gallop lived up to his name. In ’99, Charismatic gave it his all and broke down passing the finish line in third 1 ½ lengths behind Lemon Drop Kid.

War Emblem stumbled at the start of the 1 ½-mile race, never recovered and finished off the board in ’02. Funny Cide valiantly tried to do the job on the front end, tired and ran third nine lengths behind Empire Maker in ’03.

The last undefeated horse to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness was Smarty Jones in ’04. The Belmont distance prove too great and he lost by a length to Birdstone.

Barbaro is attempting to follow in the footsteps of Seattle Slew, who became the first unbeaten Triple Crown winner in ’77.

“Two weeks, obviously, for any horse is probably coming back quick, let alone winning the Kentucky Derby,” Barbaro trainer Michael Matz told the Daily Racing Form. So that was the reason to give him eight weeks off (before the Florida Derby), try to have a fresh horse.

“I don't think it’ll be a problem, but we’ll have to wait and see. If we’ve made a mistake, we’ll know (soon).”

I hope Martz made the right call. The racing world certainly needs a big boost and a Triple Crown winner would do the trick.