The 13 Horses That Have Won the Triple Crown, As Justify Prevails

Source: Visindar / Wikimedia Commons

11. Affirmed
> Won Triple Crown in: 1978
> Trainer: Lazaro Barrera
> Jockey: Steve Cauthen

Before American Pharoah claimed the Triple Crown title in 2015, Affirmed was the last horse to win it, 37 years earlier. Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes in 1978. The chestnut-colored beauty was retired the following season, with 14 stakes race wins under his belt and more than $2.3 million in prize money.

Affirmed had gone head-to-head with the runner-up of the Belmont, Alydar, in a total of 10 races. In seven of the 10, Affirmed came out as the winner. The horses’ 10th and final meeting was at the Saratoga Travers Stakes, and Alydar didn’t go down without a fight. Alydar seemingly challenged Affirmed by moving to the rail but fell short when Affirmed cut him off, almost causing him to collapse. Affirmed surged ahead to win the race. However, he was disqualified for the infamous cut-off.

Source: Andy Lyons / Getty Images

12. American Pharoah
> Won Triple Crown in: 2015
> Trainer: Bob Baffert
> Jockey: Victor Espinoza

The most recent horse to win the Triple Crown is American Pharoah, who won it in 2015. American Pharoah ended the 37-year drought for the Triple Crown — the last to win it was Affirmed in 1978. His Triple Crown win racked up more than $8 million in prize money. The stallion didn’t stop racing after the monumental win. He finished out the season in the fall of 2015 with another win at the Breeders’ Cup Classic. By winning that race and the Triple Crown, American Pharoah won horse-racing’s inaugural Grand Slam.

Like most horses with such accolades, American Pharoah’s offspring sold for a hefty chunk of change. One of the steed’s female foals sold for a whopping $1 million. One of his male foals sold for a little over half a million dollars, and another offspring sold for as much as $375,000.