WAR EMBLEM'S TRIPLE CROWN CHALLENGE

WAR EMBLEM'S Triple Crown Challenge

The year is 2002 and there's renewed hope of another possible Triple Crown winner - the ultra quick jet-black WAR EMBLEM. But before we anoint the 12th Triple Crown winner, a look back at history says the chances are pretty slim as no less than 14 horses since CITATION was crowned the 8th, "Crowned Prince" ,would go on to take the first two legs of the series only to falter in the grueling Belmont - considered to be the, "Test of Champions".

This feature takes the viewer on a virtual journey of, "Triple Crowns Past", starting with SECRETARIAT's much heralded sweep in 1973 after a 25-year drought followed by SEATTLE SLEW just four years later in 1977 who ran undefeated through the entire series and just the next year, AFFIRMED battles it out with his stubborn nemesis ALYDAR for a hard-fought Triple Crown victory in 1978.

Since AFFIRMED's sweep in 1978, seven horses would be on the brink of Triple Crown immortality only to see those dreams go up in smoke when the Belmont eluded them all. The next half of this documentary focuses on all six Triple Crown near-misses...those of SPECTACULAR BID (1979), PLEASANT COLONY (1981), ALYSHEBA (1987), SUNDAY SILENCE (1989), SILVER CHARM (1997), REAL QUIET (1998) and CHARISMATIC (1999).

Trainer, BOB BAFFERT is back again for the third time in five years (SILVER CHARM in 1997 and REAL QUIET in 1998) attempting to make history by winning the 12th Triple Crown...this time with WAR EMBLEM. Will he be the horse to break the seemingly endless Triple Crown jinx or will he also fall victim to the Belmont, "curse"?


(48 Minutes)