From Sir Barton in 1919 to Affirmed in 1978, thoroughbred racing has seen just 11 Triple Crown winners. Can a 2007 three-year-old step into TC horse shoes?

Triple Crown Spotlight Series: Rankings

The Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing for three-year-olds in America begins on May 5 in Louisville, Kentucky at Churchill Downs. Will a special 2007 colt step up to end the 28-year drought since the last TC champion, Affirmed, claimed the crown?

Scat Daddy, Street Sense, Nobiz Like Shobiz, and perhaps, Great Hunter, who was pinched out of his stretch move in the recent Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, are likely favorites for the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby, the first jewel of the TC crown.

The three races are the Derby, 1-1/4 miles at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky; the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, 1-3/16 miles; and the Belmont Stakes at Elmont, New York's Belmont Park, 1-1/2 miles.

Affirmed, last TC champ, 1978

won Derby by 2-1/2 lengths-----won Preakness by a neck-----won Belmont by a nose-----all over Calumet Farm's Alydar

bred at Harbor View Farm, Florida; by Exclusive Native--Won't Tell You, by Crafty Admiral

owned by Louis and Patrice Wolfson-----trained by Lazaro Barrera-----regularly ridden by Steve Cauthen

lifetime record--29 starts, 22 firsts, 5 seconds, 1 third, 1 unplaced-----career earnings, $2,393,818

"Baby Huey" Seattle Slew, 1977

won Derby by 1-3/4-----won Preakness by 1-1/2-----won Belmont by 4

bred at Ben Castleman's White Horse Acres, Kentucky; by Bold Reasoning--My Charmer, by Poker

owned by Karen and Mickey Taylor and Dr. James and Sally Hill-----trained by Billy Turner-----regularly ridden by Jean Cruget

liftetime record--17 starts, 14-2-0-1-----career earnings, $1,208,726

Secretariat, 1973

won Derby by 2-1/2 in track record time of 1:59-2/5-----won Preakness by 2-1/2 in (track record disputed) time of 1:54-2/5-----won Belmont in track and world record time of 2:24 flat

bred at Meadow Stud, Inc., Virginia; by Bold Ruler--Somethingroyal, by Princequillo

owned by Chris T. Chenery, then Penny Chenery (Tweedy)-----trained by Lucien Laurin-----regularly ridden by Ron Turcotte

lifetime record--21 starts, 16-3-1-1-----career earnings, $1,316,808

Citation, 1948

won Derby by 3-1/2-----won Preakness by 5-1/2-----won Jersey Derby by 11-----won Belmont by 8

bred at Calumet Farm; by Bull Lea--Hydroplane II, by Hyperion(Great Britain)

owned by Calumet Farm-----trained by Ben A. Jones-----regularly ridden by Al Snider, who died in Florida; then by Eddie Arcaro in the TC and after

lifetime record--45 starts, 32-10-2-1 (includes 16 straight wins tied in America only by Cigar)-----career earnings, $1,085,760 (first millionaire)

Assault, 1946

won Derby by 8-----won Preakness by a head-----won Belmont by 3

bred at King Ranch, Kingsville, Texas; by Bold Venture--Igual, by Equipoise

owned by King Ranch-----trained by Max Hirsch-----regularly ridden by Warren Mehrtens

lifetime record--42, 18-6-7-11-----career earnings, $675,470

Count Fleet, 1943

won Derby by 3-----won Preakness by 8 (only three rivals)-----won Withers Stakes by 5 (three opponents)-----won Belmont by 25 (two challengers)

bred at Stoner Creek Stud, Paris, Kentucky; by Reigh Count--Quickly, by Haste

owned by Mrs. John D. Hertz-----trained by Don Cameron-----regularly ridden by John Longden

lifetime record--21, 16-4-1-0-----career earnings, $250,300

Whirlaway, 1941

won Derby by 8-----won Preakness by 5-1/2-----won Belmont by 2-1/2

bred by Calumet Farm; by Blenheim II--Dustwhirl, by Sweep

owned by Calumet Farm-----trained by Ben A. Jones-----regularly ridden by Eddie Arcaro

lifetime record--60, 32-15-9-4-----career earnings, $61,161 (first over $1/2 million

War Admiral, 1937

won Derby by 1-3/4-----won Preakness by a head-----won Belmont by 3

bred at Faraway Farm, Lexington, Kentucky; by Man o' War--Brushup, by Sweep

owned by Glen Riddle Farms-----trained by George Conway-----regularly ridden by Charles Kurtsinger

lifetime record--26, 21-3-1-1-----career earnings, $273,240

Omaha, 1935

won Derby by 1-1/2-----won Preakness by 6-----lost Withers to Rosemont by 1/2-----won Belmont by 1-1/2

bred at Belair Stud, Kentucky; by Gallant Fox--Flambino, by Wrack

owned by Belair Stud-----trained by James (Sunny) Fitzsimmons-----regularly ridden by Willie Saunders

lifetime record--22, 9-7-2-4-----career earnings, $328,165

Gallant Fox, 1930

won Preakness May 9th (first time thoroughbreds used automatic starting gate) by 3/4 of a length-----won Derby, eight days later, by 2-----won Belmont, June 7th, by 3

bred at Claiborne Farm, Paris, Kentucky; by Sir Gallahad III--Marguerite, by Celt

owned by Belair Stud-----trained by James (Sunny) Fitzsimmons-----regularly ridden by Earl Sande

lifetime record--17, 11-3-2-1-----career earnings, $328,165

Sir Barton, 1919

won Derby by 5, wire to wire-----won Preakness, four days later, by 4 (eased up), wire to wire-----won Withers ten days later-----won Belmont (first to win all three classics); first 11 furlongs in 2:17-2/5, a new American record

bred by Madden & Gooch, Kentucky; by Star Shoot--Lady Sterling, by Hanover

owned by Commander J.K.L. Ross, Maryland and later by Dr. J.R. Hylton, Wyoming-----trained by H.G. Bedwell-----regularly ridden by Johnny Loftus

lifetime record--31, 13-6-5-7-----career earnings, $116,857

Standing record times for the three classics: Derby, 1:59-2/5, Secretariat, 1973-----Preakness, 1:53-2/5, Tank's Prospect, 1985-----Belmont, 2:24.0, Secretariat, 1973.

"Baby Huey" died in 2002. There is now no living American thoroughbred Triple Crown champion.