Sports

WATCH: The 5 Biggest Belmont Stakes Upsets

June 7, 2017 / 3:39 PM EDT / CBS New York

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Sure, the Belmont Stakes is where Triple Crown dreams come true. It's also where many have gone to die.

A look at the the biggest Belmont upsets of all time proves that horses that have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness not only have to fear the top contenders, but also the extreme long shots.

MORE: Irish War Cry Opens As 7-2 Belmont Favorite

That, however, is not the setup to this year's Belmont, where neither Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming nor Preakness champ Cloud Computing are running.

2004: BIRDSTONE (36-1)

Birdstone - 2004 Belmont Stakes by The New York Racing Association, Inc. on YouTube

Jockey Edgar Prado and Birdstone slipped by Smarty Jones with a furlong to go and won the race by one length, robbing Smarty Jones of the Triple Crown. Birdstone later sired future Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird and Belmont champ Summer Bird.

2008: DA'TARA (38-1)

2008 Belmont Stakes by National Thoroughbred Racing Association on YouTube

Da'Tara not only won the Belmont, he has the satisfaction of being the only horse ever to defeat Big Brown, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner. Da'Tara led the race from gate to wire. Oddly enough, he never won another race afterward.

1980: TEMPERENCE HILL (53-1)

John Henry - Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) - Belmont Park - 10/4/1980 by The New York Racing Association, Inc. on YouTube

Tempernce Hill entered the stretch run neck and neck with Rockhill Native and Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk before pulling away just before the finish line.

1961: SHERLUCK (65-1)

Sherluck wins 1961 Belmont Stakes - Dwight D. Eisenhower in attendance newsreel by PublicDomainFootage on YouTube

With former President Dwight Eisenhower in attendance, Sherluck blew by Globemaster down the stretch for the victory. The field also included Carry Back, who was chasing the Triple Crown.

2002: SARAVA (70-1)

Sarava - 2002 Belmont Stakes by The New York Racing Association, Inc. on YouTube

War Emblem was also gunning for the Triple Crown, but stumbled out of the gate and almost threw his jockey. Sarava, making just his second stakes start, benefited, pulling into the lead on the turn for home and edging Medaglio d'Oro by a half-length.