ELMONT, N.Y. – 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.

That confidence has traveled cross-country to California, where California Chrome’s 77-year-old trainer, Art Sherman, has been based for the last 10 days. While overseeing his string at Los Alamitos, Sherman has kept close tabs on what’s been going on at Belmont Park.

He thought he was home free.

“I’m gonna win the Triple Crown!” jockey Gary Stevens said he thought to himself. He was in the homestretch of the 1997 Belmont Stakes on Silver Charm, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, and had put away arch rival Free House. The race, the Triple Crown, was his.

“And then I saw this shadow well away from me,” Stevens recalled. “I knew someone was coming.”

It was Touch Gold, who overtook Silver Charm inside the sixteenth pole – another Triple Crown bid denied.

ELMONT, N.Y. – You know it’s a slow day on the Belmont Stakes workout watch when the biggest news of the morning was either Social Inclusion’s bandage unraveling as he neared the completion of another routine 1 3/8-mile gallop or the absence of Wicked Strong, who merely walked the shed row Thursday.

NBC Sports and its parent network will show 16 hours of Belmont Stakes-related coverage beginning June 4 and through the race June 7, double the amount it had originally been planning, the network said Wednesday.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Wednesday morning was a quiet one at Belmont Park and a good time to get reacquainted with some old friends from the Kentucky Derby trail, as well as a couple of new faces in this year’s Belmont Stakes mix.

California Chrome and Tonalist were the first of the five potential Belmont starters to gallop over the main track between 6 and 7:15 a.m. Wednesday. They were followed by Ride On Curlin, Social Inclusion – whose Belmont status remains uncertain – and Wicked Strong. Those five are likely to be the top choices, if they all start, in the June 7 Belmont Stakes.

When California Chrome heads to the track every morning at Belmont Park, perhaps “I Got You Babe” should be played over the loudspeakers, or maybe someone can run up to Alan Sherman and say, “Phil? Phil?” because for the past week his training routine has been so similar as to invite comparisons to the 1993 movie “Groundhog Day,” in which Bill Murray’s character, Phil Connors, keeps living the same day over and over and …

ELMONT, N.Y. - Medal Count, second in the Blue Grass and eighth in the Kentucky Derby, will run in the Belmont Stakes, trainer Dale Romans confirmed Tuesday afternoon. Robby Albarado will ride.

The decision to run was made Tuesday afternoon at a meeting between Romans and B. Wayne Hughes, owner of Spendthrift Farm, which owns Medal Count.

“He’s been training so well since the Derby,” Romans said. “He’s a Triple Crown horse, he should run in a Triple Crown race.”

We have known since that final night at Hollywood Park that California Chrome had the instant acceleration that has been winning major races forever. We knew California Chrome was fast enough to win classic races when he got Beyers of 108 and 107 in the San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby. We found out in the Preakness that California Chrome is tough, with multiple gears, first fighting off that early turn move by Social Inclusion and then holding firm against a serious stretch charge by Ride On Curlin. We shall find out on June 7 if California Chrome is legendary.

ELMONT, N.Y. – After driving through the night from Louisville, Ky., trainer Billy Gowan arrived in New York at around 2 a.m. Tuesday and, shortly thereafter, was reunited with his 3-year-old colt Ride On Curlin, whom he hadn’t seen since the morning after the Preakness.

Any fatigue Gowan may have had quickly dissipated after watching Ride On Curlin train over Belmont’s main track in preparation for the June 7 Belmont Stakes.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Based on his powerful victory in the Peter Pan Stakes on May 10, Tonalist is regarded as one of the major threats to California Chrome and his bid to become Thoroughbred racing’s first Triple Crown winner in 36 years in the June 7 Belmont Stakes.

In April, foot issues prevented Tonalist from making the Wood Memorial, eliminating him from Kentucky Derby consideration. It is foot issues that have trainer Christophe Clement taking all precautions as he prepares the colt for the $1.5 million Belmont.