Editing Affirmed (section)

===1977: two-year-old season===
As a two-year-old, Affirmed won seven of his nine starts, with two placings, for earnings of $343,477 under regular rider [[Steve Cauthen]], then a teenager.<ref name=EquibaseProfile /> Notably, six of those starts were against his rival, [[Calumet Farm]]'s [[Alydar]], with Affirmed winning four and Alydar winning two.<ref name="NYTCady">{{cite web|last1=Cady|first1=Steve|title=Affirmed and Alydar Ran Into Our Hearts|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/31/sports/affirmed-and-alydar-ran-into-our-hearts.html?pagewanted=all|website=The New York Times|access-date=28 July 2016|date=31 May 1987}}</ref>

Affirmed won his first start in a maiden special weight race at [[Belmont Park]] on May 24, 1977.<ref name="EquibaseProfile" /> He followed up with a win in the Youthful Stakes on June 15 where he defeated Alydar by eight lengths. On July 6 in the Great American Stakes, Alydar evened the score with a {{frac|3|1|2}} length win after mounting a powerful stretch drive.<ref>{{cite web|title=Calumet's Alydar Wins by 3 1/2 Lengths: Triple for Cauthen|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/07/07/archives/calumets-alydar-wins-by-3-lengths-triple-for-cauthen.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=11 September 2017|date=7 July 1977}}</ref>

Affirmed was then shipped across country to [[Hollywood Park Racetrack|Hollywood Park]], where he won the [[Hollywood Juvenile Championship Stakes]] on July 23.<ref name=EquibaseProfile /> He then shipped back to New York where he won the [[Sanford Stakes]] at [[Saratoga Race Course|Saratoga]] on August 17 by {{frac|2|1|2}} lengths over the previously undefeated Tilt Up.<ref>{{cite web|title=Affirmed Takes Sanford; Tilt Up Finishes Second|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/08/18/archives/affirmed-takes-sanford-tilt-up-finishes-second.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=12 September 2017|date=18 August 1977}}</ref> In his next start on August 27 in the Hopeful Stakes, his main rival was Alydar, who was the even money favorite after winning four straight races. Affirmed stalked the early pace set by Tilt Up with Alydar in close contention. Around the far turn, Affirmed moved to the lead with Alydar closing ground on the outside. In mid-stretch, Alydar had closed to within a head but Affirmed pulled away in the final sixteenth of a mile to win by half a length. His time of 1:{{frac|15|2|5}} for {{frac|6|1|2}} furlongs was a new stakes record.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Strauss|first1=Michael|title=Affirmed Spa Victor; Alydar 2d|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/08/28/archives/affirmed-spa-victor-alydar-2d.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=12 September 2017|date=28 August 1977}}</ref>

The two horses again faced off in the [[Belmont Futurity]] on September 10, with Affirmed going off as the narrow favorite. After a good start, Affirmed settled into second place behind longshot Rough Sea, while Alydar overcame a bad start to move into third place down the backstretch. Rounding into the stretch, Affirmed moved to the lead. Alydar responded and the two horses dueled head-to-head for the final furlong. Alydar appeared to be in the lead for much of the stretch drive before Affirmed rallied in the final stride to win by a nose. "He never gave up", said Cauthen, "even when he was headed".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Strauss|first1=Michael|title=Affirmed, $4.40, Beats Alydar by a Nose|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/09/11/archives/affirmed-440-beats-alydar-by-a-nose-affirmed-is-winner-in-futurity.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=12 September 2017|date=11 September 1977}}</ref>

Alydar turned the tables in the [[Champagne Stakes (United States)|Champagne Stakes]] on October 15, sweeping by Affirmed in the stretch to win by {{frac|1|1|4}} lengths.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Strauss|first1=Michael|title=On the Sly, Alydar Victors at Belmont|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/10/16/archives/on-the-sly-alydar-victors-at-belmont-on-the-sly-and-alydar-score-at.html|website=The New York Times|access-date=12 September 2017|date=16 October 1977}}</ref> The two faced off again in the [[Laurel Futurity]] on October 29, then one of the most prestigious races for two-year-olds in the country, with Affirmed winning by a neck.<ref>{{cite web|title=Affirmed Captures Laurel Race|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/10/30/archives/affirmed-captures-laurel-race.html?_r=0|website=The New York Times|access-date=12 September 2017|date=30 October 1977}}</ref> With his 4-2 margin in the series against Alydar, Affirmed was named the 1977 [[American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt]].<ref name="Legacy">[https://books.google.com/books?id=i7ilgwjwtN4C&dq=%22Affirmed+and+Champion+2+year+old%22&pg=PA212 Legacies of the turf: a century of great thoroughbred breeders] Retrieved 2011-1-2</ref>