Thirteen horses have won the Triple Crown - the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes.
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Sir Barton - 1919
When Sir Barton won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes there was no connection between the three races. Later, he was recognized as the first Triple Crown winner.
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Sir Barton's Preakness was 1 1/8 miles, and his Belmont was 1 3/8 miles. In the latter race, Sir Barton faced only 2 opponents.
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In his career, Sir Barton ran 31 times, with 13 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds, and earnings of $116,857.
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Gallant Fox - 1930
In 1930, the Preakness was run before the Kentucky Derby, on May 9, and Gallant Fox took it by 3/4 length.
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He then won the Derby on May 17, and the Belmont Stakes on June 7.
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Overall, Gallant Fox ran 17 times with 11 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds, and earnings of $328,165.
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Omaha - 1935
From the first crop of Gallant Fox, Omaha won the Kentucky Derby by 1 1/2 lengths.
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The Preakness was a little easier, as Omaha romped by 6 lengths.
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On a sloppy track at Belmont, Omaha came home 1 1/2 lengths in front, becoming the first Triple Crown winner sired by a Triple Crown winner. Omaha raced 22 times, winning 9 times, finishing 2nd 7 times, 3rd twice, and earning $154,705.
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War Admiral - 1937
Despite delaying the start of the Kentucky Derby by 8 minutes, War Admiral was an easy 1 3/4-length winner in the race.
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The Preakness was more of a test, with War Admiral winning by a head.
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War Admiral stumbled at the start of the Belmont Stakes, and tore off a piece of his front hoof. Despite this, he won by 3 lengths, and set a new track record of 2:28 1/5, a fifth faster than his sire, Man o'War. War Admiral earned $273,240 in his career, running 26 times, with 21 wins, 3 seconds, and 1 third.
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Whirlaway - 1941
Outfitted with a one-eyed blinker for the Derby, Whirlaway stayed on course and won easily.
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He won the Preakness by 5 1/2 lengths, despite being miles behind the others in the early stages.
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In the Belmont, heavily favored Whirlaway took command after a half, and won by 2 1/2 lengths. Whirlaway ran 60 times, winning 32 times, finishing 2nd 15 times and 3rd 9 times, while earning $561,161.
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Count Fleet - 1943
Count Fleet went straight to the front in the Derby, and won by 3 lengths.
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In the Preakness a week later, he was even more impressive, winning by 8 lengths.
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He faced only 2 in the Belmont Stakes, and won by 25 dominating lengths. Count Fleet ran 21 times, winning 16 races, finishing 2nd 4 times, 3rd once, while earning $250,300.
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Assault - 1946
A foot injury as a foal led to his nickname of 'The Club-Footed Comet.' It didn't slow him down, however, as he won the Derby by 8 lengths.
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In the Preakness, he held on by just a neck over Lord Boswell.
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Lord Boswell was favored in the Belmont, but could only manage a 5th-place finish, as Assault pulled away for a 3 length win. Assault ran 42 times over his 6-year career, recording 18 wins, 6 seconds, 7 thirds, and earnings of $675,470.
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Citation - 1948
It was sloppy on Derby Day 1948, but Citation easily defeated entrymate Coaltown by 3 1/2 lengths.
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The Preakness was a 5 1/2 length romp for Citation.
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Citation stumbled at the start of the Belmont, but quickly recovered and dominated, coming home 8 lengths in front. Racing's first millionaire, Citation ran 45 times, with 32 wins, 10 seconds, 2 thirds, and earnings of $1,085,760.
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Secretariat - 1973
It seemed like there would never be another Triple Crown winner, then along came Secretariat. He had finished third in his final Kentucky Derby (G1) prep, the Wood Memorial (G1), but he took the Roses by 2 1/2 lengths over Sham, stopping the time in an astonishing 1:59 2/5.
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Secretariat again defeated Sham by 2 1/2 lengths in the Preakness Stakes (G1). The official time was 1:54 2/5, but the time was changed to a stakes record of 1:53 in 2012.
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Secretariat cemented his status as a legend with a 31 length win in the Belmont Stakes (G1), establishing a record time of 2:24. In 21 starts, Secretariat won 16 races, was 2nd three times, and third once, while earning $1,316,808.
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Seattle Slew - 1977
Seattle Slew entered the Kentucky Derby (G1) having led at ever call of his first 6 starts. But he broke sideways in the Derby, and was boxed early. He recovered, however, and won by 1 3/4 lengths.
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He was involved from the start of the Preakness Stakes (G1), winning easily by 1 1/2 lengths.
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Seattle Slew cruised in the Belmont Stakes (G1), winning by 4 lengths to become the first undefeated Triple Crown winner. In 17 lifetime starts, he finished 1st 14 times, 2nd twice, and earned $1,208,726.
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Affirmed - 1978
Affirmed finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of Alydar in the Kentucky Derby (G1). It would be his largest margin of victory in the three races.
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Alydar got in gear more quickly in the Preakness Stakes (G1), and engaged Affirmed throughout the stretch. But, Affirmed again was the winner, this time by a neck.
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The first two races were just the opening act for the main event, the Belmont Stakes (G1). This time, the pair battled for a mile, taking turns leading. At the wire, however, it was Affirmed by a head, as he became the 11th Triple Crown winner. In 29 starts, Affirmed had 22 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, and earnings of $2,393,818.
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American Pharoah - 2015
American Pharoah outfought Firing Lane in the lane to earn a length victory in the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1).
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A downpour 10 minutes before the Preakness Stakes (G1) left the track sloppy, but it was no problem for American Pharoah, who romped by 7 lengths.
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American Pharoah cruised to victory in the Belmont Stakes (G1) defeating Frosted by 5 1/2 lengths and stopping the clock in 2:26.65.
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American Pharoah finished his career with 6 1/2-length win in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) becoming the first horse to win the Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup Classic. Overall, he ran 11 times, with 9 wins, 1 second, and earnings of $8,650,300.
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Justify - 2018
In the wettest Kentucky Derby ever, Justify came home 2 1/2 lengths in front. He became the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to capture the Kentucky Derby (G1) without having raced at 2.
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There was more rain for the Preakness Stakes (G1), plus fog, and early pressure from Good Magic. But, it was Justify again, holding off Bravazo for a half-length win.
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On to New York, where Justify finally found a dry track. He led from the start and crossed the wire 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Gronkowski. With his Belmont Stakes (G1) triumph, Justify became the 13th Triple Crown winner and just the second (after Seattle Slew) to accomplish this feat while undefeated.
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Team Justify was the first to receive the new Triple Crown trophy.
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