I'll Have Another joins list of failed Triple Crown bids
(CBS/AP) I'll Have Another's bid for a Triple Crown ended abruptly Friday with the shocking news that the colt was out of the Belmont Stakes because of a swollen tendon. Instead of vying for horseracing's ultimate prize, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes will retire from racing.
I'll Have Another becomes the 12th horse since Affirmed to win the first two legs but not the Belmont. It was the first time since Bold Venture in 1936 that the Derby and Preakness winner didn't run in the Belmont. Burgoo King skipped the race in 1932.
The last Triple Crown hopeful, Big Brown, pulled up in the homestretch of the 2008 Belmont Stakes with an apparent injury and did not finish.
Here's a look at the other 11 horses who have tried - and failed - to capture the third leg of the Triple Crown since Affirmed did it 34 years ago.
I'll Have Another joins list of failed Triple Crown bids
SPECTACULAR BID (1979)
Considered a cinch to give racing its fourth Triple Crown winner in the 1970s, Spectacular Bid stepped on a safety pin in his stall the morning of the race. He finished third behind Coastal after young jockey Ron Franklin gunned Bid to the lead and the colt faded in the stretch.
I'll Have Another joins list of failed Triple Crown bids
PLEASANT COLONY (1981)
After fighting off Woodchopper in a thrilling Kentucky Derby, Pleasant Colony came from behind to beat Bold Ego by a length in the Preakness. Alas, the four-year-old simply started too slow at the Belmont. Pleasant Colony was in last place after the first third of the race before creeping up to the middle of the pack at the far turn. It was too little too late though as the horse finished third to longshot Summing.
I'll Have Another joins list of failed Triple Crown bids
ALYSEHBA (1987)
Alysheba's Triple Crown bid was almost derailed from the outset when the horse was nearly knocked to the ground by Bet Twice at the top of the stretch in the 1987 Kentucky Derby. But Alysheba recovered to win and two weeks later, the two horses again found themselves competing down the stretch - and again Alysheba prevailed by a half length. Alas, the Belmont was a much different story. Alysheba finished fourth as Bet Twice won by 14 lengths.
I'll Have Another joins list of failed Triple Crown bids
SUNDAY SILENCE (1989)
In 1989, Sunday Silence had a heated rivalry with Easy Goer. The expected showdown between the two horses never materialized in the Kentucky Derby as Sunday Silence won by 2 ½ lengths. The Preakness was a different story with Sunday silence edging Easy Goer by a nose in a thrilling race labeled by some to be the "Race of the Half Century." But Easy Goer got his revenge at the Belmont -- obliterating Sunday Silence by eight lengths in the second fastest Belmont Stakes in history (behind Secretariat).
I'll Have Another joins list of failed Triple Crown bids
SILVER CHARM (1997)
After reeling in rival Free House with an eighth of a mile to go, Silver Charm was on his way to immortality. But with 75 yards to go, jockey Gary Stevens saw another horse out of the corner of his eye. It was Touch Gold, and Silver Charm didn't see him either until 10 jumps from the wire. By then, it was too late.
I'll Have Another joins list of failed Triple Crown bids
REAL QUIET (1998)
A year after trainer Bob Baffert had his heart broken by Silver Charm, another of his horses — Real Quiet — took a run at greatness. But jockey Kent Desormeaux was criticized for making his move too early, and by the time Real Quiet was a furlong from the finish at Belmont, he began staggering home. Victory Gallop, runner-up in the Derby and Preakness, was bearing down and the two hit the wire together. After several agonizing minutes, the photo went against Real Quiet.
I'll Have Another joins list of failed Triple Crown bids
CHARISMATIC (1999)
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas' Triple Crown quest ended with a quarter mile to go, when Charismatic fractured two bones in his left front leg but still finished third behind 29-1 long shot Lemon Drop Kid.
I'll Have Another joins list of failed Triple Crown bids
WAR EMBLEM (2002)
Baffert has had some tough luck chasing the Triple Crown and his front-running speedster was done in early — he stumbled out of the starting gate and finished eighth behind 70-1 long shot Sarava.
I'll Have Another joins list of failed Triple Crown bids
FUNNY CIDE (2003)
With a 1 ¾ upset win over Empire Maker, Funny Cide became the first New York-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby and he was made the favorite to win the Preakness. But no one expected him to dominate so convincingly: Funny Cide won the Preakness by 9¾ lengths, the second-largest margin in the race's history. Alas, the horse's return to his home track at Belmont did not prove to be kind. In a muddy Belmont Stakes, Funny Cide finished third behind Empire Maker and Ten Most Wanted.
I'll Have Another joins list of failed Triple Crown bids
SMARTY JONES (2004)
After fighting off strong challenges from Rock Hard Ten and Eddington along the backstretch, Smarty Jones and jockey Stewart Elliott opened a 3½-length lead into the stretch. But the early duels proved to be Smarty's undoing. He tired in the stretch and was caught in the final 70 yards by 36-1 long shot Birdstone.
I'll Have Another joins list of failed Triple Crown bids
BIG BROWN (2008)
A 2-1 favorite at Churchill Downs, Big Brown won by 4 ¾ lengths over Eight Belles - becoming the first horse in nearly eight decades to win the Kentucky Derby from the 20th post position. A 1-5 favorite at the Preakness, Big Brown won convincingly again, defeating Macho Again by 5 ¼ lengths. However, just six days after the Preakness, a small crack was found on the horse's left front hoof - a discovery which foreshadowed a disastrous day at the Belmont Stakes. Big Brown got boxed in near the rail, then was bumped and never recovered. Jockey Kent Desormeaux pulled the horse up in the homestretch and Big Brown did not finish.
I'll Have Another joins list of failed Triple Crown bids
All Triple Crown hopefuls who fell short at the Belmont Stakes
- 2012: I'll Have Another, scratched
- 2008: Big Brown, did not finish Belmont (Da' Tara wins)
- 2004: Smarty Jones, 2nd (Birdstone)
- 2003: Funny Cide, 3rd (Empire Maker)
- 2002: War Emblem, 8th (Sarava)
- 1999: Charismatic, 3rd (Lemon Drop Kid)
- 1998: Real Quiet, 2nd (Victory Gallop)
- 1997: Silver Charm, 2nd (Touch Gold)
- 1989: Sunday Silence, 2nd (Easy Goer)
- 1987: Alysheba, 4th (Bet Twice)
- 1981: Pleasant Colony, 3rd (Summing)
- 1979: Spectacular Bid, 3rd (Coastal)
- 1971: Canonero II, 4th (Pass Catcher)
- 1969: Majestic Prince, 2nd (Arts And Letters)
- 1968: Forward Pass, 2nd (Stage Door Johnny)
- 1966: Kauai King, 4th (Amberoid)
- 1964: Northern Dancer, 3rd (Quadrangle)
- 1961: Carry Back, 7th (Sherluck)
- 1958: Tim Tam, 2nd (Cavan)
- 1944: Pensive, 2nd (Bounding Home)