I was devastated when he didn't win the Derby because I knew he was better than Giacomo, I was glad again when he won the last 2 legs, but the bad Derby run kept us from a Triple Crown winner....
Too bad Afleet Alex was too close to the pace setup in the Derby and weirdo 50-1 and 75-1 shots beat him out on the pace collapse. Otherwise, he'd have been the one to end the drought.
History will show what a special horse this Afleet Alex was. Not even Smarty Jones or Barbaro, dare I say it, had what Afleet Alex had. He was the horsest with the mostest in the past decade. This race shows how excellent he was. The preakness, everyone thought was a freak show. This race, here, showed everyone how great he was. He needs to get with Zenyatta asap.
@Kostly I completely agree re getting Alex with Zenyatta. He is the perfect match for a huge champion mare, the foal will lose nothing having his class through the sire line and might help refine Zenyattas foal into a more manageable 16.2 rather than a 17.2.
Big fan of this horse. I believe he could have matched it with the very best in history. What a sprint this horse had. He also overcame adversity like a champion.
Those two years were special -- Smarty Jones and Afleet Alex were really good. Smarty got snookered in the Belmont -- was "out-smarted" (for lack of a better term) on the backstretch and that allowed Birdstone to lie in wait and rally to stop Smarty's TC bid. If only Afleet Alex had a better Derby trip...he was awesome in both the Preakness and Belmont.
Afleet Alex was just a dirty, dirty boy. You could tell from his prep races that he would be a force in that year's triple crown. He made for one of the most exciting TC series in history. As the years go on the legend of Alex will grow and grow. Deservingly so.
Not to compare him to Big Red as there really is no comparison but Alex's explosive moves in both this race and the Preakness somewhat remind me of Big Reds Preakness move.
@joefederico He has some Big Red genes in him. They ran a painfully slow pace in this race. Maybe they thought that they'd be able to give Alex a run for his money going to the stretch....or block him in. Jeremy gave him an excellent ride. Rating and navigating traffic to a T. When he asked Alex to go he WENT like a rocket.
The preakness was a BLAST for Alex!!! The pace there proved to everyone what kind of horse he really was. To destroy the field with that kind of pace shows how great a champ he was. But, this race just confirmed for many that Alex was a SPECIAL horse.
i remember watching the derby and i was rooting for alex but he ended up third i was somad after he won theese two races he deff shoulda won the triple crown
@H4S707 totally agree. Very few can outpace him to the wire. If he had a clear shot to the wire at the top, he would usually win. Just too explosive and sustained speed to the wire.
The thing about the Kentucky Derby is that the best horse doesnt always win. Anytime you have a field of 15 + horses, theres going to be a lot of horses with bad trips. Usually when the fields thin out in the Preakness and Belmont, you see the cream rise to the top. Thats the beauty of the Triple Crown though, and it takes not only a fast horse with the stamina to run 3 races in 5 weeks against fresher horses, but you also need a lil luck as well.
Remember Alex just missed winning the Derby,I believe he was 3rd by 3/4 or so. He at least to me showed that he was one of the very best to not win the T.C. He won this race with ease!
It is refreshing to see horses like Smarty Jones(2004),Afleet Alex(2005),Barbaro(2006),Street Sense,and Curlin(2007),and Big Brown(2008). All these horses who won classic races in this decade,give me hope for the existence of the TB breed,and the game I love,thank you!
I would have liked to have seen it too, because the competition that AA ran against was very weak. Hardly any of these horses ended up having much Grade 1 success, so it would have been nice to see how Alex measured up against the top handicap horses in the country when he turned 4.
my neighbor trained the 8 reverberate he got screwed cause he got quarter crack in the race and that the owners forced my neighbor to run him in the belmont and travers so it made him look like the bad guy when it was not. reverberate is retired and is standing stud in mexico.
Jeremy Rose will be the first to agree with you that Alex should have been a Triple Crown winner. He said that the Derby third place finish was due to some mistakes he made - not the horse. But Rose redeemed himself in the Preakness - not only by keeping Alex upright in the closing moments but his very first move out of the gates was pretty spectacular.
I'm with you cf1970, I even thought going in that Afleet was going to win the Triple Crown, and after watching the races I know he should have. But so is the Derby these days, so easy to get a bad trip.
This is my favorite race I've ever watched, even over the Preakness. Y'know why? Because following the Preakness, few doubted he would take the Belmont, but could he top such performance like that in the Preakness? And then, "And Afleet Alex just ran right by Giacomo like he was standing still!" Only this horse in this race could have matched his display of talent, heart, and raw speed that he did in the Preakness. That's why this is my favorite, he took my breath away, AGAIN!
I always knew Afleet Alex was the best quality horse of that Triple Crown field. And a "people's horse" - I was on my way to the post-race press conference and heard so much of the crowd cheer as Alex headed toward the winner's circle. He, Rags to Riches and Point Given are my favorite Belmont winners of the past 15 years.
And Tom Durkin's call of Alex's move at the quarter pole was one of the best human reactions I've heard from a race caller.
It's one of my fav race calls all-time. I loved Rags to Riches' Belmont. It was probably the most exciting I'd ever seen (that didn't end in disappointment, i.e. Smarty Jones, Funny Cide, etc.). I didn't actually get to see the Belmont on TV, I saw it on the internet. I still got chills though. I've never seen Point Given's run though, I'll have to look him up.
@FireGirlG There aren't many in history that could have kept up with that burst at the end. I wonder if he had to catch another horse how he'd of done in that case....Alex is my favorite horse of the last 10 years. He showed his greatness all throughout his career....His DNA is superb.
He would have won the derby if his jockey wouldnt have switched the whip to the left. When he did that Afleet Alex boared out, losing about a length in ground to the others. Since he only lost by a length, it would have been a darn close finish. Definitely was a good solid horse.
I agree completly, Secretariat had amazing accelaration in '73, Afleet Alex is one of the best closers I have seen, I love how he just ran past the others like that!
Why I hate love the Derby/TC. One bad trip ruins it, but if a horse wins it you know he is a true champ. That said I think Afleet Alex is a worthy champion and would have been a good triple crown winner. His Preakness ranks second only to Secretariats Belmont/Derby as the greatest race I have ever seen.
In contrast, that's why I love the TC, and that's why it's the ultimate achievement in sport. After every World Series, Superbowl, Stanley Cup, or whatever, there's always a winner. It takes a true champion to measure up to the level of greatness embodied in a Crown winner. There's no flukes when it comes to a TC winner, they've got to be great.
That was one of the best races of afleet alexes career. I agree he should have been a TC winner. too bad for that bad derby trip...it gave me chills watching him pass giacomo! He's one of my favorite horses...wish he wouldve raced longer!
Giacomo is a good horse he has done alot in his older years so dont be callin him a POS cause he is a very good horse and he closed like a train in the derby making up about 10 lengths in the strecth
Would have been a TC winner, that is what I hate and love about the derby. It is a crapshoot, Afleet alex was clearly the best horse, but a bad trip ruins it for him.
Wow, I wouldn't call him plodding. Tiring, yes. Certainly not a "POS", as you say. This is the last time I'll allow such language, abbreviated or otherwise, on my pages. I really hate profanity now. Makes me sick.
Why must you slam another horse while complimenting another? Negativity is a real joy-killer in this sport and in general. Please lighten up and just enjoy the ponies, will ya?
Afleet Alex was just in another league here, same with the Preakness and most of his other races.
You go, cf1970. I loved Giacomo. While I had picked Alex in the Derby, I thought Giacomo's win was so inspirational and wonderfully exciting. POS? Only if you mean that he's Pretty Outstanding & Spectacular!
Thanks for posting this...My buddy Tony and I won 1,251 dollars by picking the first 4. We won an additional sum of Afleet Alex and Andromedas Hero. What a day and what a horse!
He was forced to make an early move. He was getting bumped and jostled. You don't know what that can do to a horse. How they'll react. In the other two he also saved a lot more ground in the first 3/4s of the race. 10 lengths was nothing for Alex to eat up going to the back. Then once he's clear kick the last gear in drive home. HARD. Alex made it physically impossible for anyone to catch him when Rose gave him the good ride.
I was devastated when he didn't win the Derby because I knew he was better than Giacomo, I was glad again when he won the last 2 legs, but the bad Derby run kept us from a Triple Crown winner....
masterfox61 9 months ago
Too bad Afleet Alex was too close to the pace setup in the Derby and weirdo 50-1 and 75-1 shots beat him out on the pace collapse. Otherwise, he'd have been the one to end the drought.
wtywat15 9 months ago
History will show what a special horse this Afleet Alex was. Not even Smarty Jones or Barbaro, dare I say it, had what Afleet Alex had. He was the horsest with the mostest in the past decade. This race shows how excellent he was. The preakness, everyone thought was a freak show. This race, here, showed everyone how great he was. He needs to get with Zenyatta asap.
Kostly 1 year ago
@Kostly I completely agree re getting Alex with Zenyatta. He is the perfect match for a huge champion mare, the foal will lose nothing having his class through the sire line and might help refine Zenyattas foal into a more manageable 16.2 rather than a 17.2.
schardy80 1 year ago
Big fan of this horse. I believe he could have matched it with the very best in history. What a sprint this horse had. He also overcame adversity like a champion.
schardy80 1 year ago
Those two years were special -- Smarty Jones and Afleet Alex were really good. Smarty got snookered in the Belmont -- was "out-smarted" (for lack of a better term) on the backstretch and that allowed Birdstone to lie in wait and rally to stop Smarty's TC bid. If only Afleet Alex had a better Derby trip...he was awesome in both the Preakness and Belmont.
megjonaslove333 1 year ago
Sad that Afleet Alex didn't win the Triple Crown. Best in the best decade!
cynsee 1 year ago
that last 1/8th is just crazy. Who can pull away like that in a mile 1/2 race? oh yeah, afleet alex!!!!
H4S707 1 year ago
he won for fun... unlike the preakness
cbstve11 1 year ago
Afleet Alex was just a dirty, dirty boy. You could tell from his prep races that he would be a force in that year's triple crown. He made for one of the most exciting TC series in history. As the years go on the legend of Alex will grow and grow. Deservingly so.
Kostly 2 years ago
Not to compare him to Big Red as there really is no comparison but Alex's explosive moves in both this race and the Preakness somewhat remind me of Big Reds Preakness move.
joefederico 2 years ago
@joefederico He has some Big Red genes in him. They ran a painfully slow pace in this race. Maybe they thought that they'd be able to give Alex a run for his money going to the stretch....or block him in. Jeremy gave him an excellent ride. Rating and navigating traffic to a T. When he asked Alex to go he WENT like a rocket.
Kostly 1 year ago
The preakness was a BLAST for Alex!!! The pace there proved to everyone what kind of horse he really was. To destroy the field with that kind of pace shows how great a champ he was. But, this race just confirmed for many that Alex was a SPECIAL horse.
Kostly 2 years ago
Afleet Alex,a winner at heart
wolfstar23 2 years ago
haha ".....and Afleet Alex just ran right by Giacomo like he was standing STILL!!!" ...i will never in my life forget that call.
EtceteraEtceteraa 2 years ago
i remember watching the derby and i was rooting for alex but he ended up third i was somad after he won theese two races he deff shoulda won the triple crown
runwildnfree 2 years ago
In my eyes.........Alex is a triple crown winner and then some.
Kostly 2 years ago
The most under rated horse in the past 20 years. Honestly, this horse is a CHAMPION!
H4S707 2 years ago
agreed
biggaford82 2 years ago
hahaha alex was amazing.... but the little alex scott that ran alexs lemonade stand was also amazing =D
PureBSEA 2 years ago
@H4S707 I couldn't agree more. In my opinion, i thnk that 2004,2005 and 2008 should have all been years for triple crown winners.
merryass 1 year ago
@H4S707 totally agree. Very few can outpace him to the wire. If he had a clear shot to the wire at the top, he would usually win. Just too explosive and sustained speed to the wire.
Kostly 1 year ago
What a freak...
lengua92 2 years ago
One of my favorite race calls in recent memory that I've watched.
JerseyDevil26 2 years ago
WOW!!!
datstuffishot 3 years ago
The thing about the Kentucky Derby is that the best horse doesnt always win. Anytime you have a field of 15 + horses, theres going to be a lot of horses with bad trips. Usually when the fields thin out in the Preakness and Belmont, you see the cream rise to the top. Thats the beauty of the Triple Crown though, and it takes not only a fast horse with the stamina to run 3 races in 5 weeks against fresher horses, but you also need a lil luck as well.
LiquorWreckedEm 3 years ago
Remember Alex just missed winning the Derby,I believe he was 3rd by 3/4 or so. He at least to me showed that he was one of the very best to not win the T.C. He won this race with ease!
BE109 3 years ago
i loved alex!!!the belmont was sweet but his preakness win was AWESOME!!!how did he stay up??how did he still win??
rcherasaro 3 years ago
It is refreshing to see horses like Smarty Jones(2004),Afleet Alex(2005),Barbaro(2006),Street Sense,and Curlin(2007),and Big Brown(2008). All these horses who won classic races in this decade,give me hope for the existence of the TB breed,and the game I love,thank you!
BE109 3 years ago
my parents were here...theyre best friends with one of the 5 owners, joe and coleen
StepYoGameUp33 3 years ago
yeah boy, nuff said.
speedylunch 3 years ago
I luv when he says, "Afleet alex just ran buy Giacmo like he was standing still!!"
CaseyZacney 3 years ago 4
Afleet Alex just ran past Giacomo like he was standing still! Oh, I luve this race!
SabRocka 3 years ago 2
i would have loved to have seen alex run in the breeders cup and maybe be like curlin where he would run as a four year old!
dinney123 3 years ago
I would have liked to have seen it too, because the competition that AA ran against was very weak. Hardly any of these horses ended up having much Grade 1 success, so it would have been nice to see how Alex measured up against the top handicap horses in the country when he turned 4.
LiquorWreckedEm 3 years ago
afleet alex should have won the triple crown, he jus had a bad trip in the derby, but hey, thats what you call horse racing=P
afleet alex was
jediknightjohnny123 3 years ago 2
Alex would have been every bit as good as a 4 year old as Curlin is now.
georgejenkins1969 3 years ago
go Alex! you are an awesome horse!
Barbaro2012 3 years ago 2
he was so close to winning the triple crown!!
jordanjellybean 3 years ago
my neighbor trained the 8 reverberate he got screwed cause he got quarter crack in the race and that the owners forced my neighbor to run him in the belmont and travers so it made him look like the bad guy when it was not. reverberate is retired and is standing stud in mexico.
tomar111292 3 years ago
I remember reverberate running in a race prior to this, coming in second to oratorio i think
nvrlose37 3 years ago
a beauty
wassimjacob 3 years ago
Alex is much better than Giacomo! Go Alex!
SabRocka 3 years ago
Jeremy Rose will be the first to agree with you that Alex should have been a Triple Crown winner. He said that the Derby third place finish was due to some mistakes he made - not the horse. But Rose redeemed himself in the Preakness - not only by keeping Alex upright in the closing moments but his very first move out of the gates was pretty spectacular.
pellebravesskylar 4 years ago 3
I'm with you cf1970, I even thought going in that Afleet was going to win the Triple Crown, and after watching the races I know he should have. But so is the Derby these days, so easy to get a bad trip.
JigerJones 4 years ago 2
This is my favorite race I've ever watched, even over the Preakness. Y'know why? Because following the Preakness, few doubted he would take the Belmont, but could he top such performance like that in the Preakness? And then, "And Afleet Alex just ran right by Giacomo like he was standing still!" Only this horse in this race could have matched his display of talent, heart, and raw speed that he did in the Preakness. That's why this is my favorite, he took my breath away, AGAIN!
FireGirlG 4 years ago 6
I always knew Afleet Alex was the best quality horse of that Triple Crown field. And a "people's horse" - I was on my way to the post-race press conference and heard so much of the crowd cheer as Alex headed toward the winner's circle. He, Rags to Riches and Point Given are my favorite Belmont winners of the past 15 years.
And Tom Durkin's call of Alex's move at the quarter pole was one of the best human reactions I've heard from a race caller.
davemock 4 years ago 5
It's one of my fav race calls all-time. I loved Rags to Riches' Belmont. It was probably the most exciting I'd ever seen (that didn't end in disappointment, i.e. Smarty Jones, Funny Cide, etc.). I didn't actually get to see the Belmont on TV, I saw it on the internet. I still got chills though. I've never seen Point Given's run though, I'll have to look him up.
FireGirlG 4 years ago 4
My favorite part of the call.
Durkin: Afleet Alex opening up with a TREMENDOUS BURST OF ENERGY!
Kostly 3 years ago
@davemock Dave Rodman's Preak call was excellent...
Kostly 1 year ago
@FireGirlG There aren't many in history that could have kept up with that burst at the end. I wonder if he had to catch another horse how he'd of done in that case....Alex is my favorite horse of the last 10 years. He showed his greatness all throughout his career....His DNA is superb.
Kostly 1 year ago
I meant that he switched to his right and he bore in to the right....but still an awesome horse....I miss watching him run.
Ruffian4Ever 4 years ago 2
He would have won the derby if his jockey wouldnt have switched the whip to the left. When he did that Afleet Alex boared out, losing about a length in ground to the others. Since he only lost by a length, it would have been a darn close finish. Definitely was a good solid horse.
Ruffian4Ever 4 years ago
I agree completly, Secretariat had amazing accelaration in '73, Afleet Alex is one of the best closers I have seen, I love how he just ran past the others like that!
truechamphorselover 4 years ago
That was the quickest accelaration I have every seen besides Secretariat in the Preakness in '73
Rodney81818 4 years ago
Why I hate love the Derby/TC. One bad trip ruins it, but if a horse wins it you know he is a true champ. That said I think Afleet Alex is a worthy champion and would have been a good triple crown winner. His Preakness ranks second only to Secretariats Belmont/Derby as the greatest race I have ever seen.
admarine 4 years ago
In contrast, that's why I love the TC, and that's why it's the ultimate achievement in sport. After every World Series, Superbowl, Stanley Cup, or whatever, there's always a winner. It takes a true champion to measure up to the level of greatness embodied in a Crown winner. There's no flukes when it comes to a TC winner, they've got to be great.
FireGirlG 4 years ago
Afleet Alex showed in the Belmont what he was. A damn good racehorse
BE109 4 years ago
Couldn't agree more!
cf1970 4 years ago
Totally agree with that comment
Rodney81818 4 years ago 2
I think that deserves a "Hell yeah!" lol
FireGirlG 4 years ago 2
I hope Afleet Alex is enjoying his retirement!
gowest272007 4 years ago
ok,
joanne897000 4 years ago
loved this race but my fav horse was Nolan's Cat does anyone know what happened to Nolan's Cat?
henryroani 4 years ago
He eventually won a race, and was stakes-placed. Finished last in the Hawthorne Gold Cup last September, and I haven't heard from him since.
Venckman 4 years ago
hey thnx very much
henryroani 4 years ago
do u have the 2004 belmont?
aharari1 4 years ago
Hi. User carlykaiser has that race in her "Smarty Jones - Triple Crown Bid - 2004" video.
It's a great piece, check it out.
Take care.
cf1970 4 years ago
That race makes me cry. lol
FireGirlG 4 years ago
That was one of the best races of afleet alexes career. I agree he should have been a TC winner. too bad for that bad derby trip...it gave me chills watching him pass giacomo! He's one of my favorite horses...wish he wouldve raced longer!
passion4horseracing 4 years ago
also you have to love this call "Afleet Alex just ran by Giacomo like he was standing still"
garnizzle96 4 years ago
Giacomo is a good horse he has done alot in his older years so dont be callin him a POS cause he is a very good horse and he closed like a train in the derby making up about 10 lengths in the strecth
garnizzle96 4 years ago
Would have been a TC winner, that is what I hate and love about the derby. It is a crapshoot, Afleet alex was clearly the best horse, but a bad trip ruins it for him.
admarine 4 years ago
Terrific point. Bad trips are always a concern in the Derby.
Afleet Alex was much the best horse in 2005, no disrespect to Giacomo and his fine effort.
Take care.
cf1970 4 years ago
Fun watching him blow away that plodding POS Giacomo.
ghostzapper2006 4 years ago
Wow, I wouldn't call him plodding. Tiring, yes. Certainly not a "POS", as you say. This is the last time I'll allow such language, abbreviated or otherwise, on my pages. I really hate profanity now. Makes me sick.
Why must you slam another horse while complimenting another? Negativity is a real joy-killer in this sport and in general. Please lighten up and just enjoy the ponies, will ya?
Afleet Alex was just in another league here, same with the Preakness and most of his other races.
Peace.
cf1970 4 years ago
You go, cf1970. I loved Giacomo. While I had picked Alex in the Derby, I thought Giacomo's win was so inspirational and wonderfully exciting. POS? Only if you mean that he's Pretty Outstanding & Spectacular!
pellebravesskylar 4 years ago
Afleet Alex was DEFINATELY worthy of the Triple Crown. What an amazing turn of foot this horse had!!!
ryanmoseley 4 years ago
Couldn't agree with you more.
Tom Durkin sure had it right when he called him the "plucky" Afleet Alex. Just love that horse.
Thanks for watching.
cf1970 4 years ago
Thanks for posting this...My buddy Tony and I won 1,251 dollars by picking the first 4. We won an additional sum of Afleet Alex and Andromedas Hero. What a day and what a horse!
rewturn 4 years ago
Thank YOU for watching. Glad you enjoyed it.
I would have loved to see this race live. He's awesome.
Take care.
cf1970 4 years ago
i loved afleet alex, but im personal friends with mike smith, so i was rooting for Giacomo
Etrain15 4 years ago
Hey, Giacomo was a very nice horse, you gotta stick with your connections.
Mike Smith is terrific, really enjoyed watching him on Holy Bull and Lion Heart too.
Take care.
cf1970 4 years ago
Lovingly, I named my dog, who happens to be a Basenji, Smart Alex. In honor of one of the greatest horses ever. Afleet Alex.
In the same vein, I lovingly named my tortoise Giacomo. We call him Giac. Giacomo was a very steady horse. Just didn't have the gas for Alex though.
Kostly 4 years ago 2
One of the best moves I have ever seen!!! Right up there with Arazi's move in the 91 Juvenile....should have been a triple crown champ!!!
OgygianOne 5 years ago
It sure was! It is too bad he didn't win the Derby, he would have been a very worthy TC champion.
Check out Borrego's '05 JCGC as well if you haven't seen it. A wonderful effort.
It's the very first video I posted on youtube.
Take care.
cf1970 4 years ago
classic race thanks for sharing
specialsette 5 years ago
You're most welcome. It's one of my favourites. Take care.
cf1970 5 years ago
How Giacomo won the Kentucky Derby instead of Afleet Alex I'll never know. Too big of a field, maybe. That was a Triple Crown horse right there.
encierro75 4 years ago
Jeremy Rose says that Alex's loss in the Derby was entirely his fault - not due to any part on Alex.
pellebravesskylar 4 years ago
He was forced to make an early move. He was getting bumped and jostled. You don't know what that can do to a horse. How they'll react. In the other two he also saved a lot more ground in the first 3/4s of the race. 10 lengths was nothing for Alex to eat up going to the back. Then once he's clear kick the last gear in drive home. HARD. Alex made it physically impossible for anyone to catch him when Rose gave him the good ride.
Kostly 3 years ago