posted May 21, 2008 at 18:05 in Triple Crown Betting Trends

Eighteen times since World War II horses went into the Belmont Stakes and a possible date with destiny to become a Triple Crown champion.

That always reminds me of the 1942 pop hit that rings true today: “I’ve Heard That Song Before.” It was featured in the film appropriately entitled “Youth on Parade” -- the year after Whirlaway became the fifth 3-year-old to perform the feat since Sir Barton in ’19.

Eighteen times the racing gods crushed Triple Crown horse race betting dreams since ’44 when Pensive lost by a half-length to Bounding Home. Actually, Belmont Park has been the Graveyard of Champions, even more so than Saratoga.

Close but no cigar has never been so telling: 0-8-5. In addition, five off-the-board runners in the Belmont included three fourth-place finishes.

Since Affirmed edged Alydar in ’78, I’ve had my fingers crossed 10 times that we’d see a Triple Crown champ.

In ’79, Spectacular Bid, the 1-5 favorite in a field of eight, looked unbeatable riding a 12-race winning streak that including seven straight victories as a sophomore.

The son of Bold Bidder, attempting to become the fourth Triple Crown champ during the ’70s, was bumped at the break and fell behind early. However, by the time he hit the stretch he was in command.

But Spectacular Bid weakened in the drive and wound up third. After the race, trainer Doug Delp revealed a safety pin had been found in one of his hooves the morning of the race. That caused a serious infection and the colt was sidelined for a while.

Big Brown is the seventh horse in the past dozen years with eyes focused on America’s most treasured racing record I’m hoping the son of Boundary has better luck that the past six. Let’s return to those June afternoons of yesteryear:

June 7, 1997: Silver Charm gave Bob Baffert three chances in six years to saddle a Triple Crown winner. The colt fought for the lead several times in the seven-horse field before getting in front of Free House during the drive. Then Touch Gold appeared on the far outside in deep stretch and rocketed to the wire first by three-quarters of a length.

June 6, 1998: Baffert sent out Real Quiet against 10 challengers. Up by four lengths at the eighth pole, the Kentucky Derby-Preakness Stakes winner began to shorten stride and bear out, which some experts said would have disqualified him if Victory Gallop hadn’t got his nose in front.

June 5, 1999: D. Wayne Lukas saddled Charismatic in a 12-horse field. After dueling with Silverbulletday much of the way, he tried to hold off Lemon Drop Kid and Vision and Verse, who hit the wire heads apart in that order. Sensing a bad step after Charismastic finished third, Chris Antley pulled him up and held the left foreleg to prevent further injury. Successful surgery sent the horse to stud.

June 8, 2002: Baffert’s War Emblem, facing 10 rivals, stumbled and nearly fell to his knees leaving the gate. After working his way from fifth to the lead after six furlongs, he dropped out of contention at the top of the stretch and ran eighth – the worst finish of any Derby-Preakness winner.

June 7, 2003: Funny Cide was only opposed by five challengers, the smallest field since ’94 when Preakness winner Tabasco Cat defeated Derby champ Go for Gin. Empire Maker, who skipped the Preakness after running second in the Derby, defeated third-place finisher Funny Cide in the slop as Ten Most Wanted ran second.

June 5, 2004: Smarty Jones entered the race hoping to join Seattle Slew (’77) as the only undefeated winners of the Triple Crown. Breaking from the outside post against eight foes, he took over after a mile and increased his lead to 3 ½ lengths with a quarter-mile to go. Birdstone, making up ground in the stretch, closed steadily to win by a length.

Keep checking the Locker Room all through the Triple Crown season, as we will cover the trainers, horses and jockeys in each race. You can get your early Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park bets in now in the BetUS sportsbook in the Future / props section, under Horse Futures: 2008 Belmont Stakes.