Breeders' Cup Kentucky Derby Jinx Stats
by: Cindy Pierson Dulay, Article and Photos Courtesy of: http://www.horse-races.net

There has been much made of the Kentucky Derby jinx apparently attached to winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, but only for the winners. I decided it would be interesting to take a look at the stats for the top three finishers and how they did in the Kentucky Derby. Sad to say, the jinx seems to apply there too, although not as strongly as to the winner. Only two horses who finished in the top three in the Juvenile have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby: Spend A Buck (3rd in 1984) and Alysheba (3rd in 1986). Since then it has been a very long dry spell.

The best a Juvenile winner has managed is 3rd in the Kentucky Derby: Timber Country in 1994 and Chief's Crown in 1984. Of the 66 horses who have finished first, second, or third in the Juvenile between 1984 and 2005, 34 have failed to even start in the Derby and only nine have managed to finish at least third. Timber Country, winner of the Juvenile in 1994, is the only winner to go onto win a Triple Crown race, the 1995 Preakness.

Here is a list of all the horses who have finished in the top three in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile with the Kentucky Derby placings. I have also included notes for those who won the Preakness or Belmont. Overall, I would say be very wary of any horses coming out of that race unless they are truly exceptional.

Year, First, Second, Third, Derby Results, Other Triple Crown Impact

2006 Street Sense, Circular Quay, Great Hunter, ? ? ?

2005 Stevie Wonderboy Henny Hughes First Samurai - - -

2004 Wilko Afleet Alex Sun King, 6th, 3rd, 15th, Afleet Alex won the Preakness and Belmont

2003 Action This Day Minister Eric Chapel Royal 6th 16th -

2002 Vindication Kafwain Hold That Tiger - - -

2001 Johannesburg Repent Siphonic 8th - -

2000 Macho Uno Point Given Street Cry - 5th - Point Given won the Preakness and Belmont

1999 Anees Chief Seattle High Yield 13th - 15th

1998 Answer Lively Aly's Alley Cat Thief 10th - 3rd

1997 Favorite Trick Dawson's Legacy Nationalore 8th - 9th

1996 Boston Harbor Acceptable Ordway - - -

1995 Unbridled's Song Hennessy Editor's Note 5th - 6th Editor's Note won the Belmont

1994 Timber Country Eltish Tejano Run 3rd 6th 2nd Timber Country won the

Preakness

1993 Brocco Blumin Affair Tabasco Cat 4th 3rd 6th Tabasco Cat won the Preakness and Belmont

1992 Gilded Time It'sali'lknownfact River Special - - -

1991 Arazi Bertrando Snappy Landing 8th - 17th

1990 Fly So Free Take Me Out Lost Mountain 5th - 12th

1989 Rhythm Grand Canyon Slavic - - -

1988 Is It True Easy Goer Tagel - 2nd - Easy Goer was 2nd in the Preakness and won the Belmont

1987 Success Express Regal Classic Tejano - 5th -

1986 Capote Qualify Alysheba eased - 1st Alysheba won the Preakness and was 4th in the Belmont

1985 Tasso Storm Cat Scat Dancer - - -

1984 Chief's Crown Tank's Prospect Spend A Buck 3rd 7th 1st Tank's Prospect won the Preakness



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PHOTO: Afleet Alex, who was 3rd in the 2005 Kentucky Derby, is the only top 3 finisher in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to place in the Derby since 1999.