1988 Pimlico Special

[PatsGiantsSteelerfan]

Honestly, I never thought Bet Twice was all that. I always thought he was a bit overrated. Alysheba's going on to win 4 straight (won a couple prior including the Strub and the Santa Anita) after proved to me that he was "THE MAN," as they say.

[DanielSong39]

It's interesting to note that Bet Twice was actually favored over Alysheba in this race. It may be hard to believe, but Bet Twice was the higher regarded among the two for a good portion of their rivalry.

In terms of career accomplishments they were actually pretty close until Alysheba finished the '88 season with 4 straight wins to cement his status as a legend.

[flylion132]

Bet Twice beat Alysheba 4 times in their careers, they had a great rivalry, and it was an actual rivalry in them facing each other many, many times, not just one time after the triple crown races.

[Tampaslice]

Alysheba was in a class way above these other average horses. Alysheba was a Triple Crown winning caliber horse, his crutch was McCarron. Alysheba could gallop faster than these other horses could run all out. He always carried more weight than his competition. I saw Crypto, Lost Code and others in the 88' Arkansas derby, was a cold damp day. Bet Twice shouldn't even be mentioned in the same convo as Alysheba. McCarron beat Alysheba in the 87' Belmont, not Bet Twice. Just ask Jack VanBerg

[FreeBlwJobJudyKhan]

@Tampaslice Chris McCarron=one of the 5 greatest jockeys in history.Jack Van Berg was a potato headed old Dutchman who couldnt train Lassie to bark.

[JensAGatorFan]

My mom was part of the syndicate that bred Lost Code. I think they sold him as a yearling for $7,000 at OBS. Yup. 25 years later it's still hard to think about it.

[bg147]

Lost Code ran one of the biggest races that I have ever seen. He put away Little Bold John, then he put away Alysheba, and he almost held off Bet Twice who had a great trip.

[joefederico]

If any 1 of these horses were under rated it would be Lost Code. I don't think he ever ran a bad race. Difference in this race was Craig Perret knowing LCs tendency to go wide on the turn and shoot the rail with Bet Twice. Not to take away anything from either horse but Perret was almost as much a part of winning this race as BT was running it.

[drfager01]

BET TWICE, BETTER THAN CIGAR.

[DanielSong39]

Before his 4-race winning streak to end his career, Alysheba raced mostly on even terms with Bet Twice, Lost Code, Cryptoclearance, and others... and not always as the favorite, believe it or not!

Quite a rivalry back in the day.

[all66books]

Lost Code set a pretty good pace; I give him credit for hanging tough and battling Bet Twice to the end. Agree about that '87 crop of 3YOs - it was a good one!

[rhynes2]

This race made me sick to my stomach when Alysheba didn't fire. But remember he never lost again. True classic champion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rhynes2]

This race made me sick to my stomach when Alysheba didn't fire. But remember he never lost again. True classic champion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jhordanian]

Actually, he lost his next start by over 6 lengths to Cutlass Reality (Hollywood Gold Cup). Then he went on his 4 race grade 1 streak. Agree that he was a true champ. Since 1980, he is certainly up there with Cigar, John Henry, Sunday Silence, Easy Goer, and Skip Away as one of the best.

[jasonm921]

Bet Twice very under rated...Alysheba gets all the glory but Bet Twice was one heck of a horse.

[mastiffs36]

dave johnson one of the best.

[bryan3229]

Little Cryptoclearance seemed to make every dance.

[bleinmeis]

Loved that horse!

[Bassman968]

I always thought McCarron rode a bad race by keeping Alysheba too close to a fast pace. Definitely a great race though! The 1987 crop of 3YO's remains my favorite....it definitely produced some great races.

[JennyPotter]

this was a great race!!