While the racing world waits with bated breath for the 2014 Belmont Stakes, and to see if California Chrome can join racing immortality in 12 days, I decided to have a little fun with the classic race. There have been 35 winners of the Belmont Stakes since Affirmed outgamed Alydar to become the eleventh winner of the Triple Crown. Today I took on the unenviable task of ranking them 1 through 35. The basis for the ranking was on their overall racing career and a blending of excellence and accomplishments. Have fun and please let me know where you think I may have gone astray...
1. Easy Goer 20-14-5-1
2. Point Given 13-9-3-0
3. Risen Star 11-8-2-1
4. A.P. Indy 11-8-0-1
5. Afleet Alex 12-8-2-1
6. Conquistador Cielo 13-9-0-2
7. Swale 14-9-2-2
8. Coastal 14-8-1-3
9. Thunder Gulch 16-9-2-2
10. Rags to Riches 7-5-1-0
11. Bet Twice 26-10-6-4
12. Empire Maker 8-4-3-1
13. Hansel 14-7-2-3
14. Lemon Drop Kid 24-10-3-3
15. Victory Gallop 17-9-5-1
16. Palace Malice 15-6-4-1
17. Summer Bird 8-4-1-1
18. Tabasco Cat 18-8-3-2
19. Union Rags 8-5-1-1
20. Birdstone 9-5-0-0
21. Touch Gold 15-6-3-1
22. Crème Fraiche 64-17-12-13
23. Drosselmeyer 16-5-5-2
24. Danzig Connection 17-6-5-4
25. Temperance Hill 31-11-4-2
26. Colonial Affair 20-7-4-3
27. Caveat 21-6-4-3
28. Go and Go 15-6-0-2
29. Summing 23-7-5-1
30. Editor’s Note 31-6-4-3
31. Jazil 11-2-5-0
32. Ruler On Ice 22-4-5-3
33. Sarava 17-3-3-0
34. Commendable 12-2-1-1
35. Da’ Tara 17-2-5-2
