In a thrilling finish, Affirmed edged Alydar in the 1978 Preakness
and captured the second jewel in the Triple Crown.
There hasn't been a Triple Crown winner in thoroughbred racing since 1978.
There have been several near–misses in the last three decades. Last year's was noteworthy. Big Brown won the first two races and was proclaimed by racing observers to be a virtual lock to win the Belmont and wrap up the Triple Crown. But fate intervened.
Nearly two weeks ago, Mine That Bird, with jockey Calvin Borel aboard, ran to the second–biggest upset in Kentucky Derby history, and racing fans have been wondering if he can capture the elusive Triple Crown. But if he does, he will have to win at least the Preakness with a different jockey. Borel won't be riding Mine That Bird this Saturday. He will be riding Rachel Alexandra, the controversial filly that is currently a 9–5 pick to become the first filly to win the Preakness since 1924.
Jockey Mike Smith will be riding Mine That Bird, presently a 9–2 pick, in Saturday's race. Even though Mine That Bird is one of the favorites in this race — unlike the 50–1 shot he was two weeks ago — the filly has been turning some heads.
Rick Maese writes, in the Los Angeles Times, that Mine That Bird's chances seem slimmer than the existence of UFOs. Whatever one thinks of Mine That Bird and his chances of ending the Triple Crown drought, it's an appropriate comparison, given his connections to Roswell, N.M.
You can find out more about the 13–horse field, as well as the weather and track conditions at Pimlico, here.
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