Although the Derby Trial hasn't produced a starter in the Derby since 2005, it has still produced quality horses throughout the years. Lets a take a look at some of them:
1924 Black Gold (Black Toney): He was the first horse to win four Derbys (Louisana, Kentucky, Ohio State (now just called the Ohio Derby) and Chicago (which from what I can find is now defunct). Sadly after being found infertle, he broke down at the Fair Grounds and was euthanized. He is buried at the New Orleans track and they have the Black Gold Stakes named in honor of him.
1948 Citation (Bull Lea): The 8th Triple Crown winner ever, he of course also won 16 races in a row. That left him as the co-longest consecutive winning streak until it was passed by New Mexico darling Pepper's Pride and Zenyatta. The title currently belongs to the Mid-Atlantic claiming star Rapid Redux.
1984 Devil's Bag (Halo): The 2yo Champ the previous year never ran again after his win in the Derby Trial. Still, he went onto sire multiple Grade 1 winner Devil His Due (the sire of one of my personal favorites Spite the Devil). His full brother Saint Ballado is the sire of BC Distaff winner Ashado (who missed being elected into the Hall of Fame on Monday) and BC Classic winner Saint Liam (who in turn sired the recent retired Horse of the Year, Havre de Grace).
1992 Alydeed (Shadeed):
His 3 length win was good enough to get him a place in the Preakness starting gate. There he finished second behind Pine Bluff. He returned to his native Canada to win the Queen's Plate. Unfortanlly his ventures where not enough to land the 3yo Male Championship for Canada. As a four year old, he did return to win the Carter and finished third in the Met Mile.
2008 Macho Again (Macho Uno): Much like Alydeed, he turned his Derby Trial win into a runner up finish in the Preakness behind Big Brown. He would then finish 5th in the Belmont behind Da' Tara. As a four year old he would win the New Orleans Handicap and Stephen Foster. However, he will go down as the horse who gave everything that Rachel Alexandra had in her tank in the 2009 Woodward.
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