The Triple Crown spoilers

Since Affirmed became the 11th Triple Crown winner in 1978, 10 horses have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness only to fail in the Belmont Stakes. A look at how the spoilers won:

2004: Birdstone (36-1) trailed Smarty Jones by 6 lengths coming out of the far turn, then took up the chase from the far outside. Closing steadily with a sixteenth left, Birdstone wore down Smarty Jones with 70 yards to go and won by a length.

2003: Empire Maker (2-1) stalked a pace set by Funny Cide, edging closer on the far turn and drawing alongside with three-eighths of a mile to go. Shaking off Funny Cide for a clear advantage leaving the quarter pole, Empire Maker turned back a challenge by Ten Most Wanted and won by three-quarters of a length with Funny Cide third, five lengths back.

2002: After War Emblem stumbled badly out of the gate, Sarava (70-1) bided his time in midpack, then split his rivals and challenged for the lead leaving the quarter pole. Surging to the front with about an eighth of a mile to go, Sarava turned back Medaglia d'Oro to win by a half-length. War Emblem finished eighth.

1999: Lemon Drop Kid (29-1) moved into contention racing just off the rail on the far turn, going five wide in the stretch. He gained command over Charismatic and held off Vision and Verse by a head. Charismatic finished third, but pulled up abruptly a sixteenth of a mile past finish with a broken left leg.

1998: Victory Gallop (4-1) worked his way toward to the front while four wide on the turn, splitting rivals entering the stretch and wearing down Real Quiet in the final strides to win by a nose.

1997: Touch Gold (2-1) took the lead for the first half-mile, relinquished it and then moved in behind the leaders on the turn. Swinging to the outside approaching the quarter pole, Touch Gold circled six wide to launch his bid entering the stretch and finished strong, wearing down Silver Charm in the final 50 yards and winning by three-quarters of a length.

1989: Easy Goer (even money) moved quickly from the outside to take the lead approaching the stretch, drawing clear from Sunday Silence for an 8-length victory.

1987: Bet Twice followed early leaders from the outside, then moved to the front before going a mile. Drawing off quickly under urging after entering the stretch and continuing to increase his advantage under hand ride to win by 14 lengths. Alysheba checked sharply behind Gone West nearing the stretch, and finished fourth just behind Cryptoclearance and Gulch.

1981: Summing (7-1) sprinted away from the field leaving the far turn, building a lead and turning back Highland Blade to win by a neck. Pleasant Colony ran into contention nearing the far turn but never got closer than third, finishing 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

1979: Coastal (4-1) took the lead from weakening Spectacular Bid along the inside nearing the final eighth of a mile, and drew away to win by 3¼ lengths. The Bid finished third.

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