b'racingGPedulla 316 - The Derby roses were By Tom Greatness in sports can be difficult to gauge, but not when it comes to 3-year-old Thoroughbreds. just the first of theLegends separate themselves by com- floral blankets worn pleting the Triple Crown, by sweeping theby Justify as he 1-mile Kentucky Derby (G1), the 1 swept the 2018 Triple chAd b. hArMonmile Preakness Stakes (G1), and the 1- Crown under the mile Belmont Stakes (G1) in an exhaustingexpert guidance of span of five weeks. jockey Mike Smith.The travel to Kentucky, Maryland, and New York; the shift to dirt surfaces that vary widely; and the ferocity of the com-petition before massive, boisterous crowds push still-maturing horses to the limit. Those that withstand the tremendous phys-ical and mental pressure earn the ultimate prizeracing immortality.Triple Crowns can come rapid fire. Undefeated Justify, who emerged last year as the 13th Triple Crown champion after Sir Barton had been the first to be recog-nized in 1919, exploded onto the national scene just three short years after American Pharoah.The 1930s were graced by Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), and War Admi-ral (1937). The glory days of the 1940s brought Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), and Citation (1948).There are other times, though, when it seems as if the magic might never happen again. The two decades after Citation were as dry as the desert before mighty Sec-retariat (1973) had jockey Ron Turcotte looking in vain for competition during his record-breaking 31-length romp in a Belmont Stakes for the ages. Seattle Slew (1977), the only unbeaten Triple Crown champion before Justify, and Affirmed (1978) quickly followed Big Red.And then there was one failed attempt after another. Again.The record 37-year drought between Affirmed and American Pharoah was so daunting that some well-respected industry figures suggested the format belonged to a bygone era and should be changed, no matter how rich the tradition.Anne M. eberhArdt Those calls have ended, giving way to a renewed appreciation for the array of factors involved in attaining racings Holy Grail. Bob Baffert, who oversaw American 10 03_TripleCrown_use.indd 10 3/21/19 9:47 AM'