Haskin's Triple Crown Wrap-Up

OK, the naysayers have been heard, so we’re all aware that this year’s Triple Crown had little star appeal and slow times, and that this crop of 3-year-olds is mediocre at best.

Maybe it will turn out to be a weak crop; maybe it won’t. It’s only June.

Following the 1987 Kentucky Derby (gr. I), the consensus was that it was a weak race and a weak crop, based on Alysheba’s time of 2:03 2/5 on a fast track, and that he was able to win despite stumbling badly in the stretch. The Preakness also was slow (1:55 4/5), and then Alysheba got crushed in the Belmont by Bet Twice, the horse he defeated in the Derby and Preakness.

By the end of 1987, and especially in 1988, most people were saying this was one of the best crops of 3-year-olds ever – Alysheba went on to prove his greatness and Bet Twice also proved to be a top-class horse. In addition, you had Gulch, Lost Code, Java Gold, Gone West, Cryptoclearance, Polish Navy, and Afleet.

Continue reading this column, or feel free to post a comment below.