Billy Turner: Pedigree tells in Belmont

Turner likes Chrome, but . . .

Bill Turner, the trainer of 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, is a fan of California Chrome, but he appeared to waver a bit on whether the California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit is going to win the Triple Crown in Saturday’s 146th Belmont Stakes.

On one hand, Turner compliments the horse, noting that in his workout Saturday, “he was a beautiful mover,” and that mentally, “nothing bothers him, he just takes everything in stride.”

While Turner believes California Chrome will face stiff challenges from Tonalist and Wicked Strong, whom he calls “legitimate horses going a mile and a half,” he wonders if California Chrome’s modest pedigree will get him the distance.

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“The Belmont will be more the test of his pedigree than him because he’s obviously the dominant 3-year-old, but the Belmont tells pedigree, and what they do from the three-sixteenths pole to the wire is the teller,” Turner said.

Turner also noted that no Triple Crown has been won when there has been a field greater than eight horses in the Belmont Stakes. Saturday’s Belmont is expected to have an 11- or 12-horse field.

“It’s never happened, so maybe this will be the first time,” Turner said.