Did you know that Dr. Warren, the creator of BioPro Armour, had the opportunity to work with Triple Crown winner Affirmed on the racetrack? Who exactly was this famous horse?
Affirmed is the 1978 Triple Crown winner. He was bred in Florida, sired by Exclusive Native and out of Won’t Tell You. His racing career lasted from 1977 to 1979, with 29 starts. He won over two million dollars in his career.
Affirmed solidified himself as a top racing stallion and breeding sire. His bloodline lives on today through the foals that he sired, as well as their children. Continue below to learn more about him and his career.
Early Life
Affirmed was born on February 21, 1975, at Harbor View Farm in Ocala, Florida. A wily chestnut colt with standout symmetry, he was an ideal racehorse. By the time he reached maturity, he measured 16.2 hands high. His connections described him as willing, kind, and determined. His sire was Exclusive Native, and his dam was Won’t Tell You, a daughter of Crafty Admiral.
When it was time for him to start his racing career, Laz Barrera stepped up as his trainer. Affirmed was rivals with Alyadar, and they raced against each other throughout their careers. He ran his first race at Belmont Park on May 24th, 1977, taking first place. Affirmed and Alyadar faced off for the first time at the Youthful Stakes on June 15th, where they took first and fifth place, respectively. When the two raced in the Great American Stakes, Alyadar finally won over him by several lengths. The two colts kept battling it out during their two-year-old year.
In 1977, Affirmed earned the Best Two Year Old award for his accomplishments on the racetrack.
Affirmed’s Triple Crown Journey
Affirmed raced in the 104th Kentucky Derby in 1978 against Alyadar, who was the favorite with 6-5 odds. His jockey, Steve Cauthen, rode him to victory as he stepped into the first-place spot and held it after the second turn on the track. Affirmed won the Preakness Stakes by a neck, the stewards confirmed, earning him the right to run the Belmont and have a shot at the Triple Crown.
Sure enough, Affirmed pushed through and took the win in the Belmont by just a head. He and Alyadar were nose to nose for nearly the entire race. Affirmed fought hard and became the 11th Triple Crown winner in history. Affirmed kept racing and was named the 1978 Horse of the Year for his impressive career.
Affirmed’s Stud Career and Later Life
Affirmed was retired from racing in 1979 at the end of his 3-year-old year. He won 22 out of 29 races he entered, earned a total of $2,393,818 and was the top-earning racehorse at the time. Following his time at the track, he stood at Joanabell Stud in Kentucky until he had to be euthanized due to laminitis at the age of 26. The National Racing Hall of Fame inducted Affirmed in 1980.
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