Proven Reserves

[RolloTomasi]

Originally Posted by Alabama Stakes

Affirmed never should have come down, and Alydar was never beating him that day

At the 3/8s pole, Affirmed clearly went from the 3-path directly to the rail and took out Alydar, who was no more than a 1/2 length behind.

Ironically, Alydar was able to switch leads in the stretch and it was Affirmed who stayed on his left lead.

In fact, Affirmed stayed on his left lead a few days early in the Jim Dandy, giving a massive amount of weight and having to make up a ~10 length deficit in the stretch to the very good Sensitive Prince.

Perhaps the Jim Dandy effort gutted Affirmed because he didn't come back around with a winning effort until the Strub the following year.