Triple Crown 2012: I'll Have Another vs. Affirmed

The last American Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978. Although I’ll Have Another is trying to be the next horse to win the Triple Crown, he has a lot in common with Affirmed.

Like Affirmed, I’ll Have Another won his first start out. Both of the horses were not the wagering favorite in their maiden race. Even though Affirmed starting his racing career in New York, both horses won the Santa Anita Derby prior to running the Kentucky Derby. Affirmed won the 1978 Kentucky Derby by 1 and ½ lengths over Alydar. I’ll Have Another won the Derby by the exact same margin over Bodemeister. Affirmed went on to win the Preakness by a neck, once again over Ayldar. I’ll Have Another won the Preakness by a neck over Bodemeister. In the Belmont Stakes, Affirmed won by a neck over Aydiar. Even though the pattern may not continue for second place finishers in the 2012 Belmont, these similarities seem intriguing. One other similarity in the Preakness, I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister were 8 lengths in front of third place finisher Creative Cause. Affirmed and Aydiar were 7 ½ lengths in front of third place finisher Believe It.

Even though the bloodlines and path to the Triple Crown may not have been the same, Affirmed and I’ll Have Another both had the same margin of victory in the first two jewels of the Triple Crown. Will I’ll Have Another have the same margin of victory as Affirmed did in the Belmont Stakes? That question will be answered in two short weeks.