How many horses have tried to snap Apollo's Curse in the Kentucky Derby?

In my column about Kentucky Derby favorite Justify, I reference the so-called "Apollo's Curse," meaning no horse who did not race as a 2-year-old has won the Derby since Apollo turned that trick in 1882.

Justify, four-time Derby winner Bob Baffert's brilliant Santa Anita Derby winner, and Arkansas Derby winner Magnum Moon, trained by two-time Derby winner Todd Pletcher, are going against history this year.

A reader asked how many horses have tried to break the curse. Not sure of the exact number. According to US Racing, since 1937 there have been 61 horses who have tried to win the world's biggest race as a 3-year-old, without running as a 2-year-old. Three have finished second — Bodemeister in 2012; Strodes Creek in 1994 and Coaltown in 1948. Five have finished third, including Battle of Midway last year. None have won.

Here's the chart:

Kentucky Derby horses who did not race at two (1937-2017)

This story was originally published May 3, 2018 at 10:13 AM with the headline "How many horses have tried to snap Apollo's Curse in the Kentucky Derby?."