The 2012 Triple Crown was made up of three great stretch runs, and each victorious rally denied Bob Baffert a win in a classic, leading Baffert to quip: “Is there a Triple Crown for seconds? I need a Triple Crown for seconds.”

The Belmont led to the re-emergence of Union Rags, a colt everyone pegged as a two-year old to be the horse to beat in the Triple Crown the following year, writes Dick Jerardi at Philly.com. A jockey change, a better break and less traffic gave Union Rags a chance to show his ability.

As for the ride that got Union Rags the win, jockey John Velazquez said: “You’re expecting something is going to happen, if it happens, it’s brilliant. If it doesn’t happen, you’re a bum.”

Paynter, Bodemeister, Union Rags and others who contended the Classics or are just maturing will battle it out the rest of the year to determine dominance and end of the year awars. Meanwhile, “I’ll Have Another leaves the horse racing stage like so many before him — a brief flash of very bright light gone far too soon.”