AffirmedAffirmed stayed No. 1 and Alydar No. 2 in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) hunt with five weeks to go."Affirmed treated a crowd of 48,066 to a display of magnificent class, fine speed, and great style as he annihilated the leading 3-year-olds in the West with an eight-length victory in the $195,300 Santa Anita Derby (gr. I)," wrote The Blood-Horse's Robert Hebert after the April 2 race. "If there had been any lingering doubts among Southern Californians about his ability, this was the clincher. The Harbor View Farm's bright chestnut performed like a true champion."
The same was true with Calumet Farm's homebred chestnut Alydar on the East Coast. The day before the Santa Anita Derby, Alydar won the Florida Derby (gr. I) by two lengths over familiar rival Believe It in time that came within a fifth of a second of Gen. Duke's track and stakes record of 1:46 4/5 for 1 1/8 miles set in 1957.Affirmed stayed in Southern California, and Alydar headed to Keeneland for their final Kentucky Derby preps.Click here to read more about this Thoroughbred Legend in Affirmed and Alydar -- available now from ExclusivelyEquine.com.