Quadrangle spoiled Northern Dancer’s quest for the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes.

The date was June 6, 1964 – 51 years ago today.

Northern Dancer – with wins at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes already tucked in his belt – was trying to become the ninth Triple Crown winner in history and the first since 1948. But Northern Dancer ran out of gas down the homestretch and finished third, six lengths behind Quadrangle, who outdueled Roman Brother to win the upset.

Quadrangle won with jockey Manuel Ycaza in the saddle.

There have been only three Triple Crown winners since – Secretariat in 1973, Seattle Slew in 1977, and Affirmed in 1978.

Today, around 6:50 this evening, American Pharoah will try to become the twelfth Triple Crown winner in history in the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes. American Pharoah will go off as the heavy favorite.

After losing the first game of the series to the Giants, Gene Mauch was sending Dennis Bennett (7-3) to the mound. His pitching opponent was former Phillie Jack Sanford (4-5).

This was Sanford’s 11th start of the season. He shutout the Phillies on May 19th in San Francisco. Dennis Bennett came up on the short end of Sanford’s shutout that day.

There was no score through an inning-and-a-half.

In the bottom of the second, Wes Covington led off with a double. Tony Gonzalez singled, but Covington had to stop at third. John Herrnstein then sent Covington home with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0 Phils.

It was still 1-0 after three innings.

In the top of the fourth, Orlando Cepeda singled with one out. Jim Ray Hart followed with a triple to tie the score at 1-1.

The game moved through the fifth and sixth innings still tied 1-1.

In the top of the seventh, Jesus Alou led off with his first home run of the season to put the Giants out front 2-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, Gene Mauch lifted Dennis Bennett for a pinch-hitter. He replaced Bennett with Ed Roebuck (1-0) in the top of the eighth. Roebuck had yet to give up a run in 15 relief outings.

Roebuck held the Giants scoreless in the eighth.

In the bottom of the eighth, Cookie Rojas led off with a double. Richie Allen followed with a single that scored Rojas scored and tied the game at 2-2.

Alvin Dark replaced Jack Sanford with lefty Billy O’Dell (0-1) and O’Dell retired the first three Phillies he faced.

In the top of the ninth, Jesus Alou singled to left with one out. Tom Haller followed with his fourth home run to put the Giants ahead 4-2.

It was the first home run, and the first runs, that Roebuck (1-1) had allowed all season. Unfortunately, it put him on the hook for the loss.

Billy O’Dell (1-1) retired the Phillies in order in the bottom of the ninth to pick up the victory.

It was the Phillies third straight loss, and their fourth loss in five games with the Giants.

The Phillies and Giants flip-flopped in the standings with the Phillies now trailing the Giants by ½ game.

(Excerpted from 1964 – The Year the Phillies Blew the Pennant by Barry Bowe.)