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 that their names will get typed thousands of times this week as reasons why 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.
ELMONT, N.Y. - California Chrome’s final quest for the Triple Crown will begin from post 2, and the colt was installed as the heavy favorite against a relatively sizable field when the post positions were drawn and morning line established for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, to be contested Saturday.
Racing fans at Belmont Park looking for a keepsake of California Chrome’s bid for a Triple Crown can visit a special green-screen photo booth on the first-floor grandstand, near the winner’s circle, Saturday to promote the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. Fans can support the retirement, retraining, and adoption of former racehorses across North America with a $10 contribution and have their picture superimposed onto a racing photograph of California Chrome.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Owner Ron Sanchez had planned to withhold his decision on whether to run Social Inclusion in the Belmont Stakes until after his schooling session Wednesday morning. But after discussing the situation further with trainer Manny Azpurua on Tuesday, Sanchez felt there was no sense in prolonging the issue, opting to take the more conservative route and bypass the Belmont in lieu of Saturday’s seven-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes.
ELMONT, N.Y. – The last two times a Triple Crown was on the line in the Belmont Stakes, Nick Zito played the role of spoiler by winning with Birdstone in 2004 and Da’ Tara in 2008.
The Hall of Fame trainer won’t be involved Saturday when California Chrome tries to become the 12th Triple Crown winner, but he is as interested as anyone in what happens. And he has one piece of wisdom to impart.
“When Big Sandy looks down on you,” said Zito, “you’ve got to beat him. That last quarter-mile is what tells all.”
ELMONT, N.Y. – To look at Alan Sherman now, it’s hard to imagine that he once was a jockey. He’s got a nice little paunch, but with a solid, medium build that makes him resemble a former fullback more than a former rider.
Sherman rode for just three years, from 1986-89. He likes to joke that he “ate my way out of that job,” but, in fact, it was more nature than nurture that was going to keep him from a lengthy career. Time was not on his side to be a jockey. He got his GED and left high school as a junior to ride.
Dan Dougherty has been forced to gradually close all 16 of his furniture stores over the past five years due to the economic downturn. When the final two were shuttered last summer, the 55-year-old father of six faced an uncertain financial future.
But then along came Ride On Curlin.
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.”
ELMONT, N.Y. - Hall of Famers Bill Mott and Mike Smith will team up with Belmont Stakes longshot Matuszak, but they are no strangers to surprising the racing world in the oldest and longest spring classic. In 2010, they scored their first Belmont victory together with longshot Drosselmeyer.
As with Drosselmeyer, the Belmont will mark the first time Smith will be aboard Matuszak, who has one win from eight starts, that being in his career debut last September at Churchill Downs.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Tuesday was just another day at the office for the majority of the dozen or so confirmed starters for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. Routine gallops were the order of the day for almost the entire prospective field, with odds-on favorite California Chrome having the busiest morning of them all as he continues his quest to sweep the Triple Crown.
Belmont Park: Track: Fast, Weather: Sunny, Temperature: 69 degrees
