FORT WORTH, Texas -- Laughable it seems now, but in the late 1970s some suggested that sweeping the Triple Crown had become too easy. These days, of course, a sweep seems nearly impossible.
Since Affirmed swept the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont, 33 years have passed. During that stretch, already the longest between Triple Crown winners, 18 horses have come close, winning two of the sport's jewels but failing to claim a third.
But Animal Kingdom would seem to have a better chance for a sweep than many, if not most, recent Kentucky Derby winners. Working powerfully in his favor is that he's relatively fresh, having raced only five times in his life and three times this year.
"I'm very excited with how he seems to have come out of the race," said Animal Kingdom's trainer, Graham Motion, referring to the colt's victory last Saturday in the 137th Kentucky Derby.
The stressful grind of the series, which can follow a demanding run-up of prep races, has no doubt prevented some from sweeping. Pleasant Colony, Alysheba, Silver Charm and Smarty Jones all demonstrated clear superiority in the first two races, but they all failed in the Belmont Stakes, the final and longest race in the series, in part because of cumulative effects.
The Derby was Animal Kingdom's first race in six weeks. And his Derby experience was less stressful than most winners'. As Motion pointed out, Animal Kingdom didn't have to overcome an extremely wide trip or deal with a frenetic run to the first turn, he didn't get bumped around or slammed between horses, and he didn't have to work for a quarter-mile to get by the leader.
He cruised by Shackleford and Nehro in deep stretch and won with his ears pricked by nearly three lengths. Clearly best at Churchill Downs, Animal Kingdom could even improve this week at Pimlico in Baltimore, where he'll probably face a full cast of rivals in the Preakness.
The opening half-mile for the Derby (48.63) was the slowest since Jet Pilot led throughout, with an opening half in 49, to win in 1947 over an officially "slow" surface. The pace in Baltimore almost certainly will be faster and more contentious, which should work to the advantage of a late-running horse such as Animal Kingdom.
Motion isn't going to buy into the myth that Pimlico favors speed, nor is he going to change the horse's style or training. "Sometimes we get a little carried away with how different things are at Pimlico," he said, adding later, "If he's good enough, he's going to handle it."
And while many horses falter at the Belmont's 1 1/2 miles, Animal Kingdom has a pedigree that suggests he should excel. But perhaps the factor that's most favorable to his Triple Crown chances is simply the quality of the competition.
Easy Goer, Touch Gold, Empire Maker and Victory Gallop all thwarted Triple Crown bids, but will Animal Kingdom face anybody of such ability? It's hard to say, of course. Dialed In, who disappointed as the Derby favorite, will probably improve with more pace in the Preakness. Mucho Macho Man, who's still a big kid, could continue to improve. Nehro, the Derby runner-up, actually galloped out beyond the winner at Churchill Downs, and he could be ready for a top effort in New York.
It probably won't happen, simply because it rarely does. Still, Animal Kingdom has a reasonable chance to become the 12th Triple Crown winner.
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