Since Affirmed did it in 1978, nine horses have come to Belmont with a chance to become the 12th Triple Crown winner . . . and all have failed.
But if you listen to Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte, who already has told The Post that Smarty Jones will win the June 5 Belmont by 25 lengths, five of those nine should have worn the Crown.
“Spectacular Bid would have won if they weren’t obsessed with breaking Secretariat’s record,” Turcotte said, referring to “Big Red’s” record 31-length romp in the 1973 Belmont. “I was good friends with his trainer, Buddy Delp, back then and Buddy kept telling me ‘Bid’ was going to break it.
“Even after he stepped on the safety pin – that kid [jockey Ron Franklin] started riding him with six furlongs to go, trying to pull away. You know what? It got him beat.”
Turcotte, 62, also believes that if Silver Charm had been able to see Touch Gold rallying to his outside in the 1997 renewal, he would have worn the Crown as well. But Real Quiet in 1998, well, that’s a whole other story.
“Was that ride a disaster or what?” Turcotte asked rhetorically. “Desormeaux [jockey, Kent] started riding him at the half-mile pole like he was in the stretch. On the other hand, Gary Stevens’ ride on Victory Gallop [who won the race by a nose] was the best in a Triple Crown race.”
In 2002, War Emblem stormed into the Big Apple with a chance to join the “Elite Eleven.” Many feel he lost all chance when he stumbled at the start. Not Turcotte.
“When you’re going a mile and a half, you have plenty of time to overcome the stumble, no matter how bad it is.”
Like he has of late, Turcotte, who has been confined to a wheelchair since he was injured in a spill at Belmont July 13, 1978, followed the Triple Crown last year via satellite TV. After watching Funny Cide win the Derby and Preakness, he didn’t think any of the horses could beat him. According to Turcotte, they didn’t.
“Circumstances beat Funny Cide,” Turcotte said. “He looked great between the Derby and Preakness. Then after the Preakness, it looked like he lost some weight to me. The schedule was taking its toll. The fast work and being on the lead in the Belmont didn’t help, but in the end his body let him down.”
THIRD TIME NOT THE CHARM
Winners of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes who failed to win the Belmont Stakes (since 1978):
Year Horse Belmont Finish Winner
2003 Funny Cide Third Empire Maker
2002 War Emblem Eighth Sarava
1999 Charismatic Third Lemon Drop Kid
1998 Real Quiet Second Victory Gallop
1997 Silver Charm Second Touch Gold
1989 Sunday Silence Second Easy Goer
1987 Alysheba Fourth Bet Twice
1981 Pleasant Colony Third Summing
1979 Spectacular Bid Third Coastal