Thirty Favorites Who Didn't Win the Belmont
Julie Krone Lone Female to Ride In Belmont Won on Colonial Affair
May 26, 2009
Some Thoroughbred stories never got written when all the world thought they would, simply because the Thoroughbred in question didn't hit the finish line first. Thirty odds-on favorites who started the Belmont Stakes, many of whom had success in the year's previous two Triple Crown races, didn't get to the winning money in the classic third jewel.
The only female jockey in the national Museum of Thoroughbred Racing and Hall of Fame, Julie Krone, was not favored to win the 1993 Belmont Stakes. Krone is the lone member of the fairer sex ever to ride in the Belmont Stakes, and Colonial Affair catapulted her into the Hall by thumping his foes on carnation day.
Julie Krone's Belmont Stakes Rides
- 1991 --- Suborinated Debt --- finished 9th
- 1992 --- Colony Light --- 6th
- 1993 --- Colonial Affair --- won
- 1995 --- Star Standard --- 2nd
- 1996 --- South Salem --- did not finish
Krone's Belmont victory was no small affair. Sea Hero and Prairie Bayou, ridden by eventual Hall of Fame jockeys Jerry Bailey and Mike Smith, respectively, were the competition. The former had won the Kentucky Derby, and the latter had battled through to capture the Preakness Stakes, races that represent the first two legs of the Triple Crown series.
Many Notables Didn't Win Belmont Stakes
Some very notable champions did not wear a blanket of carnations: Northern Dancer, Sunday Silence, Carry Back, Smarty Jones, and Spectacular Bid, to name a few. Northern Dancer became a stallion of few peers. Sunday Silence had years of siring success in Japan. Carry Back came out of obscurity to threaten Triple Crown heavyweights. Smarty Jones was everyone's pick in 2004. The 'Bid was the finest Thoroughbred "to ever look through a bridle", according to his trainer, Bud Delp.
All of them were betting favorites on Belmont Stakes day. Here's how they landed:
- 2004 --- Smarty Jones -- 2nd +
- 1989 --- Sunday Silence -- 2nd +
- 1998 --- Real Quiet -- 2nd +
- 1987 --- Alysheba -- 4th +
- 1981 --- Pleasant Colony -- 3rd +
- 1979 --- Spectacular Bid -- 3rd +
- 1971 --- Canonero II -- 4th +
- 1966 --- Kauai King -- 4th +
- 1964 --- Northern Dancer --3rd +
- 1963 --- Candy Spots -- 2nd
- 1961 --- Carry Back --7th +
- 1960 --- Tompion -- 4th
- 1958 --- Tim Tam -- 2nd +
- 1957 --- Bold Ruler --3rd
- 1952 --- Blue Man -- 2nd
- 1950 --- Hill Prince --7th
- 1949 --- Ponder -- 2nd
- 1947 --- Faultless -- 5th
- 1944 --- Pensive -- 2nd +
- 1942 --- Alsab -- 2nd
- 1938 --- Dauber -- 2nd
- 1930 --- Whichone -- 2nd
- 1928 --- Victorian -- 5th
- 1922 --- Snob II -- 2nd
- 1915 --- Pebbles -- 3rd
- 1913 --- Rock View --2nd
- 1900 --- Missionary -- 3rd
- 1895 --- Counter Tenor -- 2nd
- 1891 --- Montana --2nd
- 1889 --- Diablo -- 2nd
Twelve of the above (+) Belmont finishers had won the first two jewels of the Triple Crown. None could complete the triple.
In 2008, Big Brown also became an unsuccessful betting favorite in the Belmont after winning the Derby and the Preakness by long margins.
Affirmed remains the last champion to win the Triple Crown. He swept the series in 1978.
