On The Cusp: California Chrome

[93henfan]

Takes the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

On to the loooooong Belmont.

Last Triple Crown Winner: Affirmed, 1978

[VictorG]

The 1st Kentucky Derby I every listen to was with Secretariat while I was in my early teens. I saw 2 more triple crown winners while I was still in my teens...At that time I didn't understand what all the fuss was about!

[Ivytalk]

So who will be this year's Birdstone?

Seriously, that Dumb Ass Partner dude who looks like Wilford Brimley made a total azz of himself today. Crying like a pussy.

I like the horse, but I just think the Belmont will do the Chrome in.

[AZGrizFan]

The 1st Kentucky Derby I every listen to was with Secretariat while I was in my early teens. I saw 2 more triple crown winners while I was still in my teens...At that time I didn't understand what all the fuss was about!

Had that exact conversation with my wife's cousin today. Couldn't see what the fuss was about in the 70's, as it seemed to happen with regularity. And then...NOTHING for 36 years.

[andy7171]

Preakness is kinda a big deal where I live. I've been to five. I sure hope this one makes it through Belmont. Always makes for an exciting race. Word is the Chrome trainer is thinking about pulling him out of Belmont because of some nasal problem. Sounds made up.

[bluehenbillk]

California Chrome didn't look like a Triple Crown winner barely hanging on to win the shortest of the three races. Not sure who will run at Belmont but I see Chrome fading on the stretch...

[SunCoastBlueHen]

California Chrome didn't look like a Triple Crown winner barely hanging on to win the shortest of the three races. Not sure who will run at Belmont but I see Chrome fading on the stretch...

I agree that the extra distance will be a challenge for California Chrome, but in the horse's defense, he stalked a quick pace in the Preakness. The pace of the race set up nicely for a closer like Ride on Curlin (the place horse), but CC managed to hold off the late charge. I think that was a better win than you give credit for.

[Grizalltheway]

Preakness is kinda a big deal where I live. I've been to five. I sure hope this one makes it through Belmont. Always makes for an exciting race. Word is the Chrome trainer is thinking about pulling him out of Belmont because of some nasal problem. Sounds made up.

He was wearing some sort of Breathe Right strip for horses in the first two races. They weren't sure if the powers that be in New York would let him wear it, but apparently they just said they would.

[93henfan]

Preakness is kinda a big deal where I live. I've been to five. I sure hope this one makes it through Belmont. Always makes for an exciting race. Word is the Chrome trainer is thinking about pulling him out of Belmont because of some nasal problem. Sounds made up.

Breathe Right strips! The owner threatened not to run the horse if he wasn't allowed to use his Breathe Rights!

They're letting him wear them now. Nuggah gotta breathe! And shit.

[CAA Flagship]

The 1st Kentucky Derby I every listen to was with Secretariat while I was in my early teens. I saw 2 more triple crown winners while I was still in my teens...At that time I didn't understand what all the fuss was about!

Had that exact conversation with my wife's cousin today. Couldn't see what the fuss was about in the 70's, as it seemed to happen with regularity. And then...NOTHING for 36 years.

Like your sex life?

[bandl]

Had that exact conversation with my wife's cousin today. Couldn't see what the fuss was about in the 70's, as it seemed to happen with regularity. And then...NOTHING for 36 years.

Like your sex life?

[AZGrizFan]

Had that exact conversation with my wife's cousin today. Couldn't see what the fuss was about in the 70's, as it seemed to happen with regularity. And then...NOTHING for 36 years.

Like your sex life?

Something like that, yeah.

[YoUDeeMan]

Lots of horses have been resting...not running the Preakness, so CC will go up against some fresh legs.

That, along with the length, is the challenge.

As far as the Preakness went, CC had another perfect trip. I mean perfect. It would be good to see how he does without a perfect ride. Put a bunch of horses in front of him from the start so he has to eat dust all race and we'll see if he is worthy of the TC.

[clenz]

Lots of horses have been resting...not running the Preakness, so CC will go up against some fresh legs.

That, along with the length, is the challenge.

As far as the Preakness went, CC had another perfect trip. I mean perfect. It would be good to see how he does without a perfect ride. Put a bunch of horses in front of him from the start so he has to eat dust all race and we'll see if he is worthy of the TC.

What if it gets another perfect trip at Belmont?

Wouldn't it prove he earned it (and already did the first two) by being able to run three straight races while being able to avoid all of that or are you saying only horses that get muddied up a bit the first 30 seconds of the race are worthy of actually winning?

To me a horse telling the rest of the field "Fuck you, I'm out" from the start proves more than getting stuck in the pack at the start

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Lots of horses have been resting...not running the Preakness, so CC will go up against some fresh legs.

That, along with the length, is the challenge.

As far as the Preakness went, CC had another perfect trip. I mean perfect. It would be good to see how he does without a perfect ride. Put a bunch of horses in front of him from the start so he has to eat dust all race and we'll see if he is worthy of the TC.

The horse has enough early speed to gain the position of stalking the early leaders, which makes a perfect trip much more likely. Unless it has a very poor start out of the gate, it should not get caught in the pack. It has run all of its races like this. The determining factor in the Belmont will be the pace of the race. If a speed horse takes CC out in quick early fractions, then I see the horse possibly fading in the stretch. A slow or moderate pace, then Chrome takes the triple crown.

Also, three weeks is plenty of rest time for thoroughbred if they came out of their previous race 100% sound. If anything, the horses with a longer layoff may not be as sharp.

[GannonFan]

Lots of horses have been resting...not running the Preakness, so CC will go up against some fresh legs.

That, along with the length, is the challenge.

As far as the Preakness went, CC had another perfect trip. I mean perfect. It would be good to see how he does without a perfect ride. Put a bunch of horses in front of him from the start so he has to eat dust all race and we'll see if he is worthy of the TC.

The ride is normally easier at the Belmont because of the smaller (typically) field. The Belmont basically comes down to the pace and the ability to run the distance, not really positioning.

[89Hen]

Preakness is kinda a big deal where I live. I've been to five.

Did you hear the owner during the trophy presentation? Basically said Churchill Downs needs to take note of how well the Preakness was run.

[93henfan]

Yep. Poor Smarty Jones got pushed way too hard and was winded down the stretch with Birdstone passing him up. And he had a nice lead too.

Gotta hold the horse up at the Belmont. Unless you're riding Secretariat, you should probably hold back from the leaders before turning your horse loose in the last turn.

If CA Chrome is leading on the backstretch, it's not going to end well.

[∞∞∞]

And another contender fails. This really is one of the toughest feats in sports.

[93henfan]

Denied.

[93henfan]

Espinoza ran him appropriately, IMHO, but the horse was just tired.

Tall task when they allow fresher horses to run in the same race.

[kalm]

Darn! I was just about to get into hires racing too!

[JayJ79]

I don't follow horse racing at all, though I did happen to flip over to NBC for two minutes or so to watch today.
Have they ever discussed only allowing horses who have run the previous two (kentucky, preakness) to enter the belmont?

[VictorG]

Worst part is the owner is whining about how unfair the rules are......says all horses must run in all 3 races.......yet they let his horse run with an artificial breathing aid....MAN, don't lessen the horses accomplishments with whining!!!!

[clenz]

Worst part is the owner is whining about how unfair the rules are......says all horses must run in all 3 races.......yet they let his horse run with an artificial breathing aid....MAN, don't lessen the horses accomplishments with whining!!!!

Any horse in the field could have worn that yesterday.