Barbaro to Win the Triple Crown?

Kentucky Derby champion has horse racing fans eying Preakness.

May 8, 2006

The sport of kings has longed for a Triple Crown Winner for nearly three decades. With a victory at the Kentucky Derby, Barbaro is the newest hope to join an elite group.

Every May, the sports world, entranced by the lengthy spectacle of the NBA playoffs and the NFL's new millionaires, pauses for a few minutes to watch, awe-struck, as a collection of the finest race horses on the planet run for the roses in the Kentucky Derby.

In the 2006 edition of spring's most exciting two minutes, Barbaro, a beautiful Bay colt, steamrolled the field, cruising to victory, nearly seven lengths ahead of the closest challenger.

Whether a horsemen, a Mint Julep lover or just a sports fan, people seem to take notice of the Kentucky Derby, because it is the first leg of the historic Triple Crown.

The Triple Crown is the mistress of the sports world - alluring and often untouchable. It has an ineffable quality, but sports fans are attracted to it, in spite of the ongoing inability to explain its luster.

Only 11 thoroughbreds have won horse racing's coveted Triple Crown - composed of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont. The last to do it was Affirmed in 1978.

Nearly 30 years later, America holds its collective breath, in anticipation of horse racing's next great hope - a Triple Crown winner. There is good evidence to support Kentucky Derby victor, Barbaro, now undefeated in six starts.

A win at Churchill Downs is one thing, but completely destroying the field is quite another. Smarty Jones did it two years ago, as fans leapt to their feet and began the chant of Triple Crown almost immediately. The legend grew at the Preakness, as Smarty Jones, looked like Pegasus, leaving the field at a standstill, en route to one of the easiest wins in Preakness history.

Finally, it seemed, the sports world would get another Triple Crown winner. No one believed Smarty Jones could lose. At the Belmont, though, 36-1 shot, Birdstone, scooted past Smarty Jones at the wire for a spectacular finish. It was a marvelous race, but the end of a legend and yet another year without a Triple Crown winner.

Now, horse racing and sports fans worldwide have a new hope. Barbaro, whose closest Derby challengers, so crestfallen in defeat, decided a day after the race to disdain the Preakness, seems to have destiny on his side.

Is this the year that the 28-year-old streak ends? Or can Affirmed, Seattle Slew and War Admiral rest easy?

The copyright of the article Barbaro to Win the Triple Crown? in Horse Racing is owned by Mark Barnes. Permission to republish Barbaro to Win the Triple Crown? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.