Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

War Emblem Tries for Triple Crown

Aired June 08, 2002 - 17:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In less than an hour, the three-year-old colt War Emblem will try to become the first horse in 24 years to win the Triple Crown.

At the Belmont Stakes, the excitement is building, and CNN's Matt Morrison is in the middle of all of it.

Hi, there, Matt.

MATT MORRISON, CNN SPORTS, BELMONT PARK, NEW YORK: Hi, Fredricka.

Yeah, it has been a wonderful day here at Belmont Park. The picnic atmosphere is turning a little bit into anxious anticipation.

As you said, everyone's here looking for a piece of history as War Emblem takes off from the 10 gate and in the 10th race of the day tries to race his way into history.

War Emblem is a colt that is -- well, it's had its share of controversy this spring, mainly because it's produced such excitement in winning both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, and because its owner, Prince Ahmed bin Salman, and his trainer Bob Baffert, picked this pony late in the season -- a latecomer to the party, shall we say.

But that hasn't dampered the enthusiasm of race fans, who have taken to the third colt in the Baffert stable to go for the Triple Crown in the last five years.

A lot of excitement at the track. And I don't think there's anybody here save for the jockeys and the horse people surrounding the other 10 entrants, that don't want to see a Triple Crown victory here today.

As you mentioned, 24 years since the last time a Triple Crown has been named. That was -- or won -- that was Affirm back in 1978.

And attaching a little bit more history to it, this one is a little bit extra special, because just less than two months ago, Seattle Slew, the 1977 Triple Crown winner, passed away, leaving us for the first time since 1919, with no living Triple Crown winner.

So there's a very real sense, Fredricka, that history is in the making. And I think people here want to see history in the making.

And this is the place where it's happening, as you said, just under an hour. Post time is 6:10 eastern, and War Emblem is the horse that everyone would like to see run his way into history.

WHITFIELD: All right, Matt. Thanks very much. The one-to-one favorite there, War Emblem.

If War Emblem wins the Triple Crown ...

MORRISON: Yeah, ...

WHITFIELD: ... oh, I'm sorry, we've got to go - it will be a big payday for his Middle Eastern owner, who paid $900,000 for the now- coveted colt.

Tonight at 6:00 p.m., how some billionaire Arabs have proven they'll shell out whatever it takes to dominate American horse racing.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com