California Chrome & the Triple Crown

[revo]

He drew post #2 in his attempt for the Triple Crown.

Since the last Triple Crown in 1978 (Affirmed), there have been 12 horses who won the Kentucky Derby & Preakness, only to fall short.

Here's your field for the 146th Belmont Stakes:

Belmont Stakes (gr. I) $1,500,000 Guaranteed
Post 	Horse 	Jockey 	Trainer 	Odds
1 	Medal Count 	       Robby Albarado 	Dale L. Romans 	20-1
2 	California Chrome 	  Victor Espinoza 	Art Sherman 	3-5
3 	Matterhorn 	         Joe Bravo 	Todd Pletcher 	30-1
4 	Commanding Curve 	Shaun Bridgmohan 	Dallas Stewart 	15-1
5 	Ride On Curlin 	       John Velazquez 	William Gowan 	12-1
6 	Matuszak 	         Mike Smith 	Bill Mott 	30-1
7 	Samraat 	         Jose Ortiz 	Rick Violette 	20-1
8 	Commissioner 	   Javier Castellano 	Todd Pletcher 	20-1
9 	Wicked Strong 	    Rajiv Maragh 	     Jimmy Jerkens 	6-1
10 	General a Rod 	    Rosie Napravnik 	Mike Maker 	20-1
11 	Tonalist 	         Joel Rosario 	Christophe Clement 	8-1

[johnnya24]

3/5 ... is he that good? It hasn't been done since 1978 for a reason.

[revo]

3/5 ... is he that good? It hasn't been done since 1978 for a reason.

He's on a 6 race win steak and has beaten almost all of these horses. He'd be a worthy Triple Crown winner.

[johnnya24]

He's on a 6 race win steak and has beaten almost all of these horses. He'd be a worthy Triple Crown winner.

What about the extra distance ... that is normally the killer? That extra half kilometer makes a big difference.

Any of those other 6 races over 2.5 km?

[revo]

What about the extra distance ... that is normally the killer? That extra half kilometer makes a big difference.

Any of those other 6 races over 2.5 km?

You're speaking European again, Johnny!

Seriously, no, there are no races in the US at 1 1/2 miles for 3 yr olds (or for any other horse, for that matter). All the Ky Derby preps are at 1 1/16th or 1 1/8th, and only the TC races are longer. This is where the breeding usually takes over, and why the TC is such a grind -- the TC races get progressively longer, at distances they've never run before.

[johnnya24]

You're speaking European again, Johnny!

Seriously, no, there are no races in the US at 1 1/2 miles for 3 yr olds (or for any other horse, for that matter). All the Ky Derby preps are at 1 1/16th or 1 1/8th, and only the TC races are longer. This is where the breeding usually takes over, and why the TC is such a grind -- the TC races get progressively longer, at distances they've never run before.

Difference between a horse bred to run a mile and mile and a half is pretty big ... almost like different division is boxing ... especially these days with breeding making the competition so close. I have to think that a group of really solid stayers bred for the longer distance would have to be favorite over a shorter distance specialist. 3/5 might be a good lay based purely on that and the history of the TC.

Then again, we've seen some special horses these last few years ... so he could be another one.

[revo]

Bah!!

[johnnya24]

... and Frankel's half brother "Australia" won the Derby today.

[Pogues]

Somebody's owner is being a whiny little bitch tonight...

[revo]

Somebody's owner is being a whiny little bitch tonight...

Yeah, stay classy California Chrome!

[revo]

But Coburn's comments lead to an interesting discussion -- should the Triple Crown be altered in some way? For a sport that is not even close to the popularity it once had (despite the fact the TV ratings are all-time great), and with most horse racing fans' attention span lasting only from May until June, enough is enough already with the difficulty of producing a Triple Crown winner. Maybe the length between the races need to be extended, or as he said, limited to qualifiers only. New fans need to see success, not endless failure. Heroes are fleeting in this sport -- many of the TC race winners don't even make it to the fall -- so something needs to be done to capitalize on them while they're still racing. The 11 Triple Crown winners epitomize exactly what is wrong with this sport -- they're all relics from the distant past, with most racing fans having only seen them on ancient You Tube videos.

[Judge Jude]

no question that they need extend the time frame; maybe a week extra before the 2nd and 3rd races - the other key summer/fall races should be able to handle 2 fewer weeks.