From the 1970s, when Triple Crown winners Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed were all 2-year-old champions, as were classic winners Riva Ridge, Foolish Pleasure and Spectacular Bid, through the 1980s and ’90s, most Kentucky Derby winners were top-class stakes performers as juveniles and had vigorous Triple Crown prep campaigns.
But dating from Fusaichi Pegasus’ victory in the 2000 Derby, those trends have been reversed. The Derby has been won by several horses that were lightly raced at 2, and the last six winners in a row only had two preps at 3.
With less than 11 weeks to go to the 139th Run for the Roses on May 4, it’s worth a look back at what the Derby winners from Fusaichi Pegasus on accomplished as 2-year-olds and in their 3-year-old preps.
* Fusaichi Pegasus: Raced just once at 2; did not break his maiden until Jan. 2, then won an allowance, San Felipe and Wood Memorial.
* Monarchos: Raced twice at 2; did not break his maiden until Jan. 13, then won allowance and Florida Derby, was second in the Wood.
* War Emblem: Was 2-for-3, no stakes wins at 2; at 3, ran four times before the Derby, winning an allowance and the Illinois Derby.
* Funny Cide: Went 3-for-3 at 2, including a pair of NY-bred stakes; prepped for Derby with fifth in Holy Bull, seconds in Louisiana Derby and Wood.
* Smarty Jones: 2-for-2 at 2, including PA-bred stakes; at 3, won Count Fleet, Southwest, Rebel and Arkansas Derby.
* Giacomo: Ran four times at 2, including second in the Hollywood Futurity; prepped for Derby with third in Sham, second in San Felipe, fourth in Santa Anita Derby.
* Barbaro: 2-for-2 at 2 including Laurel Futurity; won Tropical Park Derby, Holy Bull and Florida Derby preps.
* Street Sense: The only 2-year-old champion to win the Derby since Spectacular Bid ran five times at 2; prepped for Derby with win in the Tampa Bay Derby and second in Blue Grass.
* Big Brown: Won his only start at 2, then had just two more starts before the Derby, winning an allowance and the Florida Derby.
* Mine That Bird: Champion 2-year-old colt in Canada; prepped for Derby with second in Borderland Derby and fourth in Sunland Derby.
* Super Saver: Was 2-for-4 at 2 including win in Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes; at 3, was third in Tampa Bay Derby and second in Arkansas Derby.
* Animal Kingdom: Went 1-for-2 at 2; was second in allowance and won Spiral before Derby.
* I’ll Have Another: Was 1-for-3 at 2 with second in Best Pal; at 3, won R.B. Lewis and Santa Anita Derby.