Capot - Three Year-old Season

Three Year-old Season

At age three, Capot entered the 1949 Kentucky Derby as a 13–1 longshot. Ridden by Ted Atkinson in all the American Triple Crown races, Capot broke from the gate well and was forwardly placed early. He charged to the front of the field on the backstretch. He held on willingly, but was unable to withstand the rush from winner Ponder. Easily the best of the rest, he finished in second by 4½ lengths in front of Palestinian.

Then, in the second jewel of the Triple Crown, Capot opened as the 2.5–1 second favorite in the field of ten in the $75,000 Preakness. In that race, all broke well and Capot sprinted near the lead in second as he passed the stands for the first time. Going into Pimlico's famous clubhouse turn, he was steadied in close quarters but held his position. Just inside the furlong pole coming down the lane, Capot assumed control and drew clear under pressure. He was handled nicely by Atkinson to stave off the rally of Palestinian and win by a head. It was three more lengths back to Noble Impulse in third, as favorite Ponder finished fifth. Capot went on to win the Belmont Stakes three weeks later. His performances earned him 1949's Three-Year-Old Male Champion honors. He was named the 1949 Horse of the Year by the Daily Racing Form but lost the Turf and Sport Digest poll to Coaltown.