War Emblem was the front-running winner of the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, but his chance of obtaining horse racing immortality was spoiled at the Belmont Stakes when he stumbled out of the gate and nearly fell to his knees before recovering, and faded to an 8th place finish. He would go on to take the Haskell Invitational during the summer on his way to accumulating nearly $3.5 million in earnings and taking home the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Three Year Old Colt of 2002. This gold-colored blanket with black lettering spelling "2002 PREAKNESS WINNER" was awarded to War Emblem in the winner's circle for his win on that monumental day at Pimlico Race Track.