I'll Have Another Would Be Greatest Horse in Last 25 Years with Belmont Win

The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978. Since then, only 11 horses have won the Kentucky Derby/Preakness double, and only seven more won the Preakness/Belmont double after failing to win the Derby.

All in all, we've see 18 horses in the last 33 years (19 in the last 34 years including I'll Have Another) win two of the three American classics since Affirmed last won them all.

Needless to say, a win by I'll Have Another at the Belmont will put the colt in rarefied horse-racing air and, in the process, earn him the crown of best horse in the last 25 years.

Say what you will about the competitors in the field. Say what you will about the margin of victory. I'll Have Another is still winning races and that is all that matters.

Nothing can take away from his stunning and surprising come-from-behind victory at the Derby. Nothing can take away from his even more stunning chase of Bodemeister at the Preakness.

And even with his nemesis out of contention at Belmont, there is nothing that could be taken away from I'll Have Another should he win the "test of champions."

Winning the grueling one-and-a-half mile race is an impressive feat in itself. If he can find the winner's circle just once more it will be something that an entire generation of people have never seen.

A total of 34 years have gone by since the last Triple Crown winner. All other things aside, there simply cannot be a better horse than I'll Have Another in the last 25 years should he capture the Belmont.