And the excuse given by trainer Grover G. So what happens? Bid finished third, that's what. Even if Franklin rode poorly – as, in fact, he did – Bid seemed to have the brilliance to overcome his mistakes. He had won the first two jewels so impressively that it seemed the only way he could lose was if teenage jockey Ronnie Franklin fell off. A lot of stuff can happen in a horse race and much of it isn't good.īack in 1979, I thought Spectacular Bid was a mortal lock to become racing's third consecutive Triple Crown winner (joining Affirmed and Seattle Slew in 1977). But it's one thing to say he can win – even that he should win – and quite another to declare that he will win. Let's get this out of the way quickly: Pharoah has the breeding, the temperament and talent to add the 1.5-mile classic to his wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – By the end of the week, when all the Belmont Stakes analysis and speculation have reduced all of us to a bunch of blubbering idiots, we will have to mentally regroup so we can actually focus on what happens when American Pharoah attempts to become thoroughbred racing's 11th Triple Crown winner and first since Affirmed in 1978.
