Kentucky Derby 2012: Power Ranking the 10 Best Derby Winners Ever
The 138th Run for the Roses is set to begin this weekend, and one horse will join the prestigious list of names of those that have conquered the first leg of the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs.
The Kentucky Derby has hosted many dominant racehorses throughout the years, but there are only a select few worthy of making the cut.
So which legendary thoroughbreds rank among the best ever?
Join Bleacher Report as we take a walk down memory lane and power rank the 10 best Derby winners ever.Ā
10. Sunday Silence (1989)
1 of 10Sunday Silence won a difficult race at Churchill Downs in 1989 as the thoroughbred muscled his way past the favorite, Easy Goer, through a muddy track.
He won by more than two lengths and would go on to win the Preakness before falling to Easy Goer by eight lengths at the Belmont Stakes.
9. Affirmed (1978)
2 of 10Affirmed became the 11th thoroughbred to win the Triple Crown, but is currently the most recent racehorse to have accomplished the feat.
Affirmed came into the Derby as a 9-5 favorite, but held off 6-5 overall favorite, Alydar, to take the Run for the Roses by over a length.
8. Seattle Slew (1977)
3 of 10The 10th Triple Crown champion, Seattle Slew was an odds-on favorite to win the Kentucky Derby and did just that, taking the field by nearly two lengths.
In 17 career starts, he managed only one time to miss the Top 2.
7. Citation (1948)
4 of 10Citation became the eighth triple crown winner in 1948, after blowing by the field at Churchill Downs to take home the money.
He also won Horse of the Year honors that same year.
6. Whirlaway (1941)
5 of 10Whirlaway won the Kentucky Derby in 1941 on his way to bringing home Horse of the Year honors not once but twice, earning the title again in 1942.
He became just the fifth Triple Crown winner in history.
5. Count Fleet (1943)
6 of 10Count Fleet won the Kentucky Derby by three lengths in 1943, and went on to win the Triple Crown in impressive fashion.Ā
He took the Preakness by eight lengths and cruised at the Belmont Stakes, winning by a remarkable 25 lengths.
4. Spend a Buck (1985)
7 of 10In 1985, Spend a Buck dominated the Kentucky Derby, leading the field from start to finish and claimed the race's fourth fastest time in history.
Though he skipped the remainder of the Triple Crown to race the Jersey Derby for financial bonus purposes, Spend a Buck won Horse of the Year in 1985.
3. Secretariat (1973)
8 of 10Secretariat is arguably the fastest racehorse of all-time, having set the track record at the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.Ā
He was also the first Triple Crown winner since 1948, snapping a 25-year drought.Ā
2. Assault (1946)
9 of 10Assault won the Triple Crown in 1946, thanks to an impressive first leg at the Kentucky Derby. He won by eight lengths, which ranks among the largest margins of victory in the race's history.
The seventh TC winner in history, Assault won Horse of the Year in 1946 and remains one of the most dominating victors at Churchill Downs.
1. War Admiral (1937)
10 of 10Only the fourth Triple Crown winner in history, War Admiral crushed the field at the 1937 Kentucky Derby, winning by eight lengths.
In 26 careers starts, he won 21 times and finished outside of the Top 3 only once.
