Columnist Ralph Siraco: Charismatic has chance to join racing’s elite

Ralph Siraco

Monday, May 24, 1999 | 9:57 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections appear Tuesday through Friday. Write to him c/o Las Vegas Sun, 800 S. Valley View, Las Vegas, NV 89103.

As we move closer to the June 5 Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown quest of Charismatic, it is important to realize how much of an achievement it would be to complete that sweep, which only a few others in the history of thoroughbred racing have done.

Many equine greats have compiled impressive records without ever getting close to a Triple Crown -- or for that matter what Charismatic has already accomplished in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes -- and became household names, legends, in the sport of kings.

Ack Ack, Alydar, Buckpasser, Dr. Fager, Equipoise, Forego, John Henry, Native Diver, Round Table and the storied Seabiscuit -- all are in the Hall of Fame but none ever won a single Triple Crown race. Five-time Horse of the Year Kelso and the great Cigar never even competed in the Triple Crown of their sophomore year.

The Triple Crown is undoubtedly the most difficult feat in all of thoroughbred racing. Only 11 colts have captured the Triple Crown, while 43 others have finished one win shy of the honor.

Seven stubbed their hoofs on the first leg -- the Kentucky Derby -- only to redeem themselves in the final two-thirds of the Crown. Native Dancer lost the only race of his 22-race career in the 1953 Derby to Dark Star, then rebounded to take the Preakness and Belmont. Nashua followed in 1955 when Swaps beat him in the Derby and then turned the tables in the next two races. Other Derby losers to win the Preakness and Belmont were Damascus in 1967, Little Current in 1974, Risen Star in 1988, Hansel in 1991 and Tabasco Cat in 1994.

Six won the Preakness-Belmont double without competing in the Kentucky Derby. The most famous of that group was the great Man o' War in 1920.

Fourteen have come as far as Charismatic only to lose the Belmont.

Pensive won the 1944 Derby and Preakness only to finish second to Bounding Home in the Belmont, and in 1958 Cavan won the Belmont to upset the Triple Crown bid of Tim Tam.

In 1961 Carry Back finished seventh in the Belmont after thrilling victories in the first two rounds. Other Derby-Preakness winners to go down in the Belmont Stakes were Northern Dancer in 1964 (third to Quadrangle), Kauai King in 1966 (fourth to Amberoid), Forward Pass in 1968 (second to Stage Door Johnny), Majestic Prince in 1969 (second to Arts and Letters), Canonero II in 1971 (fourth to Pass Catcher) and Spectacular Bid in 1979 (third to Coastal). There was a trio in the 1980s with Pleasant Colony in 1981 (third to Summing), Alysheba in 1987 (fourth to Bet Twice) and Sunday Silence in 1989 (second to Easy Goer).

The '90s have produced back-to-back just misses. In 1997 Silver Charm captured the Derby and Preakness only to lose the Belmont to Touch Gold, and last year Real Quiet came within inches of winning the Crown when he was beaten by Victory Gallop by a nose.

Sir Barton's victories in the 1919 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes became the starting point for what we know now as the Triple Crown. However, it wasn't until 1930 that the phrase "Triple Crown" was associated with the series. Popular sportswriter Charles Hatton of the Daily Racing Form coined the phrase in writing about Gallant Fox's victories in the three races.

That decade would produce another pair of Triple Crown winners in Omaha (1935) and War Admiral (1937). Gallant Fox sired Omaha, and to this day is the only Triple Crown champion to sire another Triple Crown champion.

No decade, however, produced more Triple Crown winners than the 1940s. Whirlaway became the first of four Triple Crown winners in 1941, followed by Count Fleet in 1943, Assault in 1946 and the great Citation in 1948.

Twenty-five years elapsed between Citation and Secretariat, who in 1973 smashed the time records for all three Triple Crown races, although he is still not credited for the Preakness record due to a malfunction in the official timer at Pimlico. His records in the Derby and Belmont still stand.

In the years leading up to Secretariat's Triple Crown triumph, many doubted if there would ever be another Triple Crown winner. The Crown had become more difficult to attain with increased racing across the country and a larger number of foals produced annually.

Then came another pair.

In 1977 Seattle Slew became the first unbeaten colt to sweep the Triple Crown, completing nine consecutive victories that included the three jewels of the Crown. Affirmed captured the coveted series the very next year to become the 11th Triple Crown champion. His 1978 accomplishment marked the first time in history that the Triple Crown was won in successive years.

Now 21 years later Charismatic has his date with destiny. If he wins the Belmont Stakes it will complete a 48-day span which covered four demanding victories from the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 18 to a rare place in racing history.