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Affirmed
 The
Crown
"And Affirmed puts his nose in front... It's
Affirmed!" With those words track announcer
Chick Anderson hailed the 11th American Triple Crown
Winner as the gallant colt reached down for all
his reserves, to outfinish his rival, Calumet Farm's
Alydar. Finally, this hearty competitor would receive
the accolades and rewards of greatness that he so
richly deserved. Until that shining moment, there
were still more than a few people who held the belief
that Alydar was the better colt. But the smaller
colt had triumphed and the doubters retreated.
The Beginnings
It had been a long haul for the Florida-bred Affirmed
from his humble beginnings. Owners Louis and Patrice
Wolfson may have hoped for the best when they bred
their Crafty Admiral mare, Won't Tell You, to the
well-bred but modestly accomplished Exclusive Native,
but realistically the mating looked like it would
produce just another decent horse to wear the flamingo,
black and white colors of their Harbor View Farm.
This colt named Affirmed would debut in May of his
2-year-old year as he drew away from his rivals
winning off at the generous odds of 13-1. Trainer
Laz Barrera who had brought Bold Forbes to prominence
in the preceding season appeared to have a colt
of some potential. Meanwhile, there were whispers
on the backstretch that Calumet had a good one,
a well developed, blue-blooded colt named Alydar
who was yet to start, but had on a couple of occasions
worked a "hole in the wind." The rivalry
between Affirmed and Alydar would soon begin. A
few weeks after his impressive debut Affirmed was
entered in the Youthful Stakes. The connections
of the unraced Aldyar threw caution and conservatism
to the wind and boldly decided to enter in the same
race. The result was Affirmed winning, with Alydar
finishing fifth. Shortly thereafter, Alydar dropped
back to the maiden ranks and pulverized his competitors.
In July, Affirmed and Alydar were to meet for the
second time in the Great American Stakes with the
stakes winning Affirmed giving his rival 5 lbs.
Alydar drew off and beat Affirmed by 3 1⁄2
lengths as Affirmed held second. Score the rivalry
1-1.
Barrera chose to send Affirmed west for the rich
prize of the Hollywood Juvenile Stakes. The race
split into two divisions and Affirmed breezed in
his division winning off by 7 lengths in a crisp
1:09.1. In the east, the focus remained on Alydar
who easily handled his competitors in the Tremont
Stakes.
The whispers had subsided. The powerfully built
Alydar, wearing the legendary devil's red and blue
silks of Calumet, looked like the real item, and
the easterners were embracing him. Trainer Barrera
commented he saw a better Affirmed after his western
foray, a smarter and more mature individual. The
rivalry was shaping up. Affirmed shipped back to
the east in Mid-August and took the Sanford Stakes
from off the pace. Up til then, Affirmed had contested
the lead in all of his races. About that same time,
Alydar shipped to Monmouth and easily took down
the Sapling Stakes. Round three was just around
the corner, with the prestigious Hopeful Stakes
the site for the match. The crowd favored Alydar
with Affirmed second choice. Affirmed, tracking
the pace of the speedy Tilt Up, drew up to the leader
as Alydar followed. At the eighth pole, they were
stride for stride. Affirmed, in what was later to
become a frequently seen characteristic reached
down inside himself, called on his reserves and
inched forward of Alydar as they hit the wire in
a very fast 1:15.2 for the 61⁄2 furlongs.
Score it, Affirmed 2 - Alydar 1.
Two weeks later Affirmed and Alydar met once again
in the Futurity Stakes with the results identical
to the Hopeful. Alydar again got on terms with his
rival but could not go by. Once again, the smaller
Affirmed showed his heart, and won by inches. Next
they met in a muddy Champagne and Alydar won it
by a head, running out in the middle of the track
and Affirmed near the rail. Trainer Barrera reasoned
that Affirmed could not see his rival well. Affirmed
3 - Alydar 2. The Laurel Futurity was to mark their
last meeting of the year. The eastern crowd fully
embraced their popular Alydar at 2-5 and made Affirmed
second choice at 7-5. But again, it was Affirmed
outgaming his rival, winning by a neck. Final Score
for the year, Affirmed 4-Alydar 2. On the basis
of his superior record over his rival Affirmed was
given the year end 2 year old honors as best colt.
The rivalry was to be continued.
The Road to the Crown
All was well in both camps as the three-year-old
season began. Trainer Barrerra had brought Affirmed
west for a winter campaign, Alydar remained in the
east. In 1978, in the west, the rains poured down
and Affirmed's training was often restricted. Nevertheless,
physically, Affirmed was doing well and had narrowed
the gap on rival Alydar. No longer was it like night
and day, pony versus horse, Affirmed was developing
into a fine looking horse. Described that winter
as a "big, small-horse", reflecting his
good muscling and development, Affirmed was moving
into Alydar's realm. Not his equal, but closer.
As Affirmed and trainer Barrera waited out the rains,
Alydar began. In February, winning his Hialeah debut
easily while prepping for the Flamingo, Alydar looked
every part the champion. Two weeks later he went
in the Flamingo and crushed his rivals while getting
the nine furlongs in a very fast 1:47.1. Meanwhile
Affirmed was yet to make his 3-year-old debut. The
pressure was on trainer Barrera and Affirmed to
not get too far behind their rival. Finally, Affirmed
found a spot. Debuting at 6 1⁄2 furlongs in
early March, he cruised to an easy victory against
moderate rivals in fast time. Affirmed, now only
one step behind, came right back 10 days later in
the San Felipe and won nicely, though in moderate
time. Two weeks hence, in the first part of April,
Alydar shipped south and went in the Florida Derby.
Again, he won cleverly by two lengths in 1:47.1.
Affirmed, not to be outdone, ran the very next day
in the Santa Anita Derby and blitzed his rivals
drawing off by eight lengths. Both colts appeared
to be on target.
As a final prep for the Kentucky Derby, trainer
Veitch chose the Blue Grass Stakes for Alydar and
Affirmed stayed west and went in the Hollywood Derby.
Both won convincingly. Next, it was on to Churchill
Downs to run for the roses.
On a beautiful spring day in Kentucky, with a very
large crowd on hand, the rivals entered the gate
for the 1978 Kentucky Derby. Not mindful of the
previous years results, the large crowd again embraced
Alydar, making him the 6-5 favorite, while Affirmed
was made the 9-5 second choice. Leaving promptly,
Affirmed got his position and tracked the speed
horses in front of him. Alydar, not gifted with
great dexterity leaving the gate, fell back. As
the race began in earnest approaching the quarter
pole, jockey Cauthen allowed Affirmed to cruise
up to the pacemakers, still well within himself.
Meanwhile, Alydar was unwinding from the back. When
set down in the lane, Affirmed spurted clear from
Believe It to grab the lead, while Alydar came wide
into the lane. Affirmed, enjoying all the best of
it, finished well while never in danger. Alydar
finished strongly along the outside. Again Affirmed
has bested his rival. And on to the Preakness.
There had been some talk in the eastern press that
Affirmed was again lucky to beat Alydar, but the
Pimlico crowd was having none of it. They backed
Affirmed strongly at 1-2 and let Alydar go at 9-5.
The race ran to form. Affirmed again tracked the
speed, always going well. Alydar laid closer. As
they rounded into the turn for home, Cauthen sat
calmly and still while outside and just in front
of the other pace horses as his rival moved up.
Turning for home, the crowd roared when Alydar got
to Affirmed's throatlatch, expecting Alydar's usual
strong finish, but he could gain no more. Affirmed
stuck his neck forward, seemingly in great control
throughout, set out for the finish line and turned
back his arch-rival, winning by a long neck.
He had finally won the respect that he deserved
but there was one more race to be won. Some in the
press were confident that Alydar would prevail at
the 12-furlong distance of the Belmont, and there
seemed to be good reason to believe it. Though Alydar
was getting beat, he wasn't losing by much and he
always seemed very willing in the stretch drive.
Trainer Veitch insisted that Affirmed would get
no rest in the upcoming Belmont, planning to go
after Affirmed right from the start and wear him
down. Though he was right, and the race unfolded
as trainer Veitch wished, Affirmed had the heart
of a lion. Caught and pressed by his bigger, stronger
rival, they raced as a team for the last mile. In
the stretch, Alydar poked his neck in front while
pinning his rival to the rail. Seemingly the Triple
Crown had evaded the deserving Affirmed. But in
a showing of extraordinary courage, Affirmed again
reached down for all he had, and pulled back to
his rival. With 100 yards left, with Cauthen whipping
vigorously from the left side, Affirmed was back
nose to nose with Alydar. Finally, while pushing
forward with every vestige of his remaining strength,
he got his nose in front and kept it there. The
Triple Crown was his.
The Aftermath
Affirmed will always be remembered by the people
for his great winning resolve and his victories
in the 1978 Triple Crown series. Surely he was one
of the greats. But he was to meet his match later
on in that year. In an extraordinary matchup, he
met the great Seattle Slew, winner of the previous
year's Triple Crown, in the 1978 Marlboro Cup. Slew,
blessed with an extraordinary turn of speed, got
the jump on him out of the gate though Affirmed
had broke running. Jockey Cauthen inexplicably took
a long hold on Affirmed and let the brilliant Seattle
Slew go his first quarter in a very leisurely 24
seconds. For all intents and purposes, at that point
the race was over. Seattle Slew simply turned on
his speed and finished brilliantly, getting his
last 7 furlongs in 1:21.4. Affirmed stayed some
3 lengths behind him throughout and did his best,
but he was helpless to match Slew's great speed.
Nevertheless, though Seattle Slew finished up the
year with gusto, the Eclipse voters opted for Affirmed
as the Horse of the Year. A deserving reward for
a great champion, but he was perhaps the second
best colt in that year.
At four, Affirmed was again a champion and Horse
of the Year. Though starting the year with two losses
in the Malibu and San Fernando Stakes, he reeled
off 7 consecutive wins to conclude the racing year.
In June, while campaigning out west, he carried
132 lbs in the Hollywood Gold Cup and gave the high-class
Irish colt Sirlad 12 lbs and a beating in a sprightly
1:58.2 for the mile and a quarter. In September,
Affirmed shipped east to run in a couple of the
prestigious and traditional races for top older
horses. He took down the Woodward without trouble
and then matched up with the terrific Spectacular
Bid in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. At that time, Spectacular
Bid was widely regarded as one of racing's greats
and was considered unlucky to not have a Triple
Crown of his own. In any event, the race lived up
to its billing. Affirmed, always in front and racing
out from the rail, turned back challenges by Spectacular
Bid and maintained a safe lead throughout. In doing
so he sealed the year's championship honors and
a more exalted place amongst racing's greats.
At stud, Affirmed was a qualified success. Like
many of the greats, high expectations are accorded
them. He was often maligned for not siring one as
good as himself. Nevertheless, he sired champions
in many countries, including the very high-class
American mare, Flawlessly. Oddly, though Affirmed
was a great runner on the dirt, most of his best
offspring were grass horses. Starting off his stud
career at Spendthrift, Affirmed was later to join
his rival Alydar, at Calumet Farms.
If horses could talk, I'd love to hear what those
two might have said to each other.
Pedigree
Affirmed, ch.c.
foaled 1975 |
Exclusive Native,
1965 |
Raise A Native, 1961 |
Native Dancer |
| Raise You |
| Exclusive,
1953 |
Shut Out |
| Good Example |
| Won't
Tell You, 1962 |
Crafty
Admiral, 1948 |
Fighting
Fox |
| Admiral's
Lady |
| Scarlet
Ribbon, 1957 |
Volcanic |
| Native Valor |
(female family # 23)
Born: February 21, 1975,
Harbor View Farm, Florida.
Current Location: Active stallion at Jonabell Farm,
Lexington, Kentucky.
Racing Record:
| Year |
Age |
Starts |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
unp. |
earnings |
| 1977 |
2 |
9 |
7 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
$
343,477 |
| 1978 |
3 |
11 |
8 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
901,541 |
| 1979 |
4 |
9 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1,148,800 |
| total |
|
29 |
22 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
$2,393,818 |
Stakes Record:
at 2:
- won - Hopeful Stakes [G1]
- won - Futurity Stakes
[G1]
- won - Laurel Futurity
[G1]
- won - Hollywood Juvenile
Championship Stakes [G2]
- won - Sanford Stakes [G2]
- won - Youthful Stakes
- 2nd - Champagne Stakes
[G1]
- 2nd - Great American Stakes
- Champion 2yo Colt
at 3:
- won - Kentucky Derby [G1]
- won - Preakness Stakes
[G1]
- won - Belmont Stakes [G1]
- won - Santa Anita Derby
[G1]
- won - Hollywood Derby
[G1]
- won - San Felipe Handicap
[G2]
- won - Jim Dandy Stakes
{G3]
- 2nd - Marlboro Cup H.
[G1]
- 2nd - Travers Stakes [G1]
- Champion 3yo Colt
- Horse Of The Year
at 4
- won - Hollywood Gold Cup
[G1]
- won - Jockey Club Gold
Cup [G1]
- won - Santa Anita Handicap
[G1] *NTR 10f 1:59 3/5
- won - Californian Stakes
[G1]
- won - Charles H Strub
Stakes [G1]
- won - Woodward Stakes
[G1]
- 2nd - San Fernando Stakes
[G2]
- 3rd - Malibu Stakes [G1]
- Champion Handicap Horse
- Horse of The Year
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