ESPN Films' documentary "Charismatic," which aired on television Tuesday night, brings back strong memories of the D. Wayne Lukas-trained colt's failed 1999 run at horse racing's Triple Crown.

The hour-long documentary, which was directed by Steven Michaels, son of the legendary announcer Al Michaels (who interestingly was the host of ABC Sports' coverage of the Triple Crown races that year), was sharply narrated by longtime racing writer Bill Nack. It tells the story of Charismatic, sure, but focuses much of its attention on jockey Chris Antley.



Antley's successful return to the track after substance abuse problems takes much of the spotlight off Charismatic's own story of redemption -- though that was just for maddeningly inconsistent performance, which led him to actually be made available in a claiming race before finally putting things together. The duo shocked the experts by winning the Kentucky Derby at 30-1 odds, then taking the Preakness at 8-1.

The piece ends just after the famous shot of Antley holding Charismatic's front leg off the ground after the colt broke down just past the finish line in the Belmont (Lemon Drop Kid won the race).

Jockey Chris Antley holds Charismatic's leg after the colt broke down at the finish of the 1999 Belmont Stakes. AP file photo.

Hall of Fame jockey (and Antley friend) Gary Stevens provides great insight into his fellow rider's mindset and personal battles during that time period. Antley's quick actions after the Belmont were credited for helping keep Charismatic's career-ending injury from being fatal, but Antley also caught lots of criticism for keeping the colt too close to the pace (rather than make the one big run in the stretch the duo had used to win the first two Triple Crown races) and leading to speculation that that running style contributed to the colt's injury.

Charismatic didn't race again, but recovered to stand at stud in Japan, where he remains today.

The one glaring omission from the piece was the lack of a Lukas interview. But the sometimes cantankerous Hall of Fame trainer continues his silence to this day about Antley's ride in the Belmont. 

Antley unfortunately fell into depression and relapsed into drug abuse not long after the Belmont. It was reported that he had four different drugs in his system when he was found dead in his home -- under still-mysterious circumstances -- in 2000. His family still maintains he was murdered, but the autopsy ruled his death officially an accidental overdose. He was just 34 years old.

If you get a chance to see the piece, it's definitely worth your time.