Alydar (KY)

Biography

Bred and campaigned by Calumet Farm and trained by Hall of Famer John Veitch, Alydar won 11 stakes races in his career and finished second to Affirmed in each of the Triple Crown races in 1978.

As a 2-year-old in 1977, Alydar defeated Affirmed in the Great American Stakes and Champagne Stakes, but Affirmed got the better of him four other occasions that year, including the Hopeful Stakes, Belmont Futurity Stakes and Laurel Futurity Stakes.

Alydar won three Grade 1 races — the Flamingo Stakes, Florida Derby, and Blue Grass Stakes — as a 3-year-old prior to the 1978 Kentucky Derby, for which he was a slight favorite over Affirmed. Alydar, however, was defeated by his rival by 1½ lengths in the Derby. Alydar was then second to Affirmed by a neck in the Preakness Stakes and lost to him by a head in the Belmont Stakes.

After the narrow defeats in the Triple Crown events, Alydar crushed the field by 13 lengths in the Arlington Classic, defeated older horses by 10 lengths in the Whitney Handicap, and won the Travers Stakes when Affirmed was disqualified. Alydar finished his sophomore campaign with a record of 7-3-0 from 10 starts and earnings of $565,071.

As a 4-year-old in 1979, Alydar won an allowance at Hialeah Park and the Nassau County Handicap at Belmont Park. He was retired with a career record of 14-9-1 from 26 starts and earnings of $957,195 after finishing third in the Suburban Handicap at Belmont.

Alydar stood at stud at Calumet Farm, where he sired Hall of Fame members Alysheba and Easy Goer, as well as standouts Turkoman, Strike the Gold, and Criminal Type. Alydar died in 1990.