NEW YORK..HERE HE COMES – Chrome polishes off Preakness pals, 105 Beyer Figure
There isn’t anything much better in horse racing than a star horse who attracts the mainstream media. The Triple Crown is the best tool we have and now that CALIFORNIA CHROME, the strong, speedy flashy colt from nowhere, has won two of the three legs, it will be fun to celebrate this fellow in the next 3 weeks.
Watching Steve Coburn and family in tears, overcome with emotion, after their colt won the Preakness, was magical. No doubt the movie rights are in the works. The book. The t-shirts.
Daunting Belmont racetrack awaits the Chrome and his blue collar owners Steve Coburn and Perry Martin. The huge, expansive , sandy track that has foiled the Triple Crown bids of Silver Charm, Real Quiet, Big Brown and Smarty Jones. Those ones made it to the race. Two years ago, I’ll Have Another didn’t even make it there.
So, enjoy the ride of horse racing in the spotlight again for 3 weeks (for a good reason!), have a Belmont party or get down to the track on SATURDAY JUNE 7. He may not win it, but it sure will be fun.
BELMONT POSSIBILITIES
California Chrome
Commanding Curve – 2nd in Derby
Commissioner
Danza -3rd in Derby
Intense Holiday – unplaced Derby
Kid Cruz unplaced Preakness
Ride On Curlin – 2nd Preakness
Samraat – unplaced Derby
Social Inclusion – 3rd Preakness
Tonalist – won Peter Pan
Wicked Strong – 4th Derby
BALTIMORE SUN COVERAGE
By Childs Walker, The Baltimore Sun
A half mile into Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, Victor Espinoza had to make a decision.
Several speedy challengers had dashed in from the outside, quickening the pace on his horse — Kentucky Derby champion California Chrome. Should Espinoza accelerate earlier than planned? Make the wrong choice, and he might dash the Triple Crown hopes of many who’d fallen in love with an improbable sensation.
Espinoza abandoned caution and made his move. California Chrome did not let him down. As he has throughout an increasingly remarkable 3-year-old campaign, the chestnut colt pulled away from the lesser thoroughbreds around him and cruised to victory before a record announced crowd of 123,469 at Pimlico Race Course.
The Chrome back at the barn after the Preakness. Cindy Pierson Dulay/horse-races.net
SPEIGHTSONG REIGNS IN QUEENSTON
but Queen’s Plate trip unlikely
SPEIGHTSONG streaked away with the 59th Queenston Stakes at Woodbine yesterday and while the race is considered the first major event leading to the Queen’s Plate, the colt’s interests are skeptical the speedy guy is 1 1/4 mile material.
Although a half-brother to Up With the Birds, Canada’s top three-year-old last year, and second place finisher as the favourite in the Queen’s Plate, Pierce has his doubts that Speightsong can give Sam-Son a sixth Plate win.
“I always thought this was a good little horse,” said Pierce. “He just needed some lessons to learn. He was a two-year-old who always had some mucous problems, nothing serious but he always had excuses, I think, in his first three races. But he’s finally showing what we thought of him.
“I think he has distance limitations. I don’t think he’ll get the mile and a quarter (Plate distance) but we’ll figure it out over the next couple of months.”
That is refreshing to hear candid talk and should the colt not be of 10 furlong ability, he certainly is a good one.
The time of 1:22.37 translated into an 83 Beyer Figure.
Robert Tiller’s THE IMPOSTER was a game 2nd after going unbeaten in 2 races and Eighty Nine Red was a modest third after being too rank and hard to handle in the race.
Wagering at Woodbine of $3.5 million was down from $4.3 million on Preakness day last year.
More on Woodbine Friday, Sat. and Sunday in tomorrow’s blog, today is the Selene, tomorrow, we celebrate New Providence!
