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Believe It (horse)

Believe It
Sire In Reality
Grandsire Intentionally
Dam Breakfast Bell
Damsire Buckpasser
Sex Stallion
Foaled 1975
Country United States
Colour Chestnut
Breeder Hickory Tree Farm
Owner Hickory Tree Stable
Trainer Woody Stephens
Record 17: 6-6-2
Earnings $350,483
Major wins

Wood Memorial Stakes (1978)

American Classic Race placing:
Kentucky Derby 3rd (1978)
Preakness Stakes 3rd (1978)

Wood Memorial Stakes (1978)

Believe It (February 9, 1975 – June 5, 2002) was an American bred racehorse. His sire was In Reality and his dam was Breakfast Bell. He won 6 of his 17 starts. His biggest win was probably the 1978 Wood Memorial Stakes. He also won the 1977 Remsen Stakes, defeating Alydar by two lengths on a sloppy track, the only loss either Alydar or Affirmed suffered to a horse other than each other prior to the 1978 Kentucky Derby.

Early in 1978, the Washington Post declared Believe It to be one of the best three-year-olds in 1978, and his trainer, Woody Stephens said the colt was one of the best he had ever trained. "Believe It was a very nice colt last year and if I know anything at all it's that he has improved greatly this winter." However, he lost to Alydar in the Flamingo Stakes on March 4, finishing a disappointing fourth. He lost again to Alydar in the Florida Derby on April 1 by two lengths. He bounced back in the Wood Memorial April 22, defeating Darby Creek Road by 3 1/2 lengths and completing the 1 1/8 mile race in 1:49 4/5.

Following his victory in the Wood Memorial, he entered the 1978 Kentucky Derby as the fourth favorite at 7-1, behind Alydar, Affirmed and Sensitive Prince. After leading Affirmed by a head with a quarter mile to go, he faded to third in the Derby, behind only eventual Triple Crown winner Affirmed and Alydar. He finished the derby 2 3/4 lengths behind Affirmed and just 1 1/4 lengths behind Alydar. Two weeks later at 6-1 odds, he again finished third behind Affirmed and Alydar in the 1978 Preakness Stakes, although much farther back at 7 1/2 lengths. His jockey in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes was Eddie Maple. After the Preakness, trainer Woody Stephens announced that Believe It would not challenge the two horses in the Belmont Stakes. "I'm going to where they ain't. In the Derby, Believe It was beaten by less than three lengths. In the Preakness, it was nearly eight. So long, Affirmed. Bye-bye, Alydar."


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