In sharp contrast to the large throng of cheering spectators who assembled at Belmont Park early Saturday morning to watch California Chrome turn in his final work for the Belmont Stakes, trainer Rick Violette and a few disinterested members of the cleaning crew were about the extent of the crowd on hand when Samraat did likewise across town at Aqueduct later that morning.
General a Rod will join the field for the June 7 Belmont Stakes, his co-owner, Jack Wolf, said Saturday morning following a five-furlong workout in 1:00.20 at the Trackside training center in Louisville, Ky.
On Saturday, California Chrome, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, looked fabulous in a half-mile workout timed in 47.41 seconds by Daily Racing Form. It was California Chrome’s one and only work between the Preakness and his attempt to become the sport’s 12th Triple Crown winner in the June 7 Belmont Stakes.
Jockey Victor Espinoza, who did a superlative job guiding California Chrome to victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, will remain in New York and accept mounts throughout the week, according to his agent, Bryan Beach.
After spending the past three mornings watching the same prospective Belmont Stakes starters go through virtually the same routines, there finally was some welcomed diversity during training hours at the main track Friday, with some relevant activity also taking place over at the training track during the course of the session.
Mickey Taylor knows just how Steve Coburn and Perry Martin feel, coming from a place in the Thoroughbred world so far removed from the bluegrass of Kentucky and the ivied walls of Belmont Park to try and win the Triple Crown.
Though Dallas Stewart is bringing the Kentucky Derby runner-up to the Belmont Stakes for the second consecutive year, the trainer believes the similarities between Commanding Curve and Golden Soul end there.
In the 14 runnings of the Belmont since 2000, a total of seven horses have lost the Derby, skipped the Preakness, and won the Belmont.
The connections of California Chrome who are based in New York have emanated more and more confidence in their colt’s Triple Crown quest with each passing morning that they watch their Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner train.
Belmont Park is where Triple Crown dreams are realized – 11 times since 1919. And it is where they have gone to die 11 times since 1978, with a 12th bid in 2012 negated by I’ll Have Another’s career-ending injury announced on the eve of the race.
