Immediately after he won the Preakness, I wondered if California Chrome would be able to produce yet another top effort in the Belmont Stakes. California Chrome seemed to have a more demanding race at Pimlico than he did when he won the Kentucky Derby.
If this were an ordinary race, it would be hard to see past the 3-5 morning-line favorite. But the Belmont Stakes has devolved into one of the most extraordinarily random races on the American racing calendar.
At the risk of seeming like Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch – with a heart two sizes too small – my wagering strategy in the Belmont will be to bet Wicked Strong and, to a lesser extent, Tonalist to upset California Chrome in the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Jerkenses, pere et fils, are ready to pounce on some of the big favorites scheduled to run on the Belmont Stakes card. No one would be surprised if a giant or two were slain.
California Chrome has held top form all spring and reportedly thrived at Belmont Park. His six straight wins at four different tracks include the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, and Preakness Stakes. His tactical speed all but ensures another comfortable trip.
Belmont Park is offering several multirace pool guarantees Saturday, starting with a $500,000 guarantee on the opening 50-cent pick five, which starts with the first of 13 races at 11:35 a.m. Eastern.
Darren Rogers, senior director of communications and media services at Churchill Downs, accepted a temporary role this week as the guard of the Triple Crown trophy that normally is housed at the Kentucky Derby Museum in Louisville, Ky.
Wicked Strong and Social Inclusion both schooled in the starting gate Wednesday, but the results were markedly different.
There is a significant level of respect for California Chrome among rival trainers whose horses will try to deny him the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, but that didn’t stop 10 horses from being entered Wednesday against him, setting the stage for California Chrome to clear yet another hurdle on his glorious, improbable journey.
I am not quite sure what Spectacular Bid, Silver Charm, Real Quiet, and Smarty Jones have to do with Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, other than their names will get typed thousands of times this week as reasons California Chrome can’t win. I am going to give you the most obvious reason why he can win: California Chrome is the best horse.
