California Chrome Flashes Triple Crown Form at The Preakness For 6 In a Row
After the Preakness Stakes this past weekend, two things have happened in each of the last six races California Chrome has run. He has won, and the colt from the Golden State has worn a 2 inch nasal strip which promotes better breathing. With $2.95 million in winnings and both Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes titles under his horse's belt over the past couple of weeks, trainer Art Sherman would be wise to nasally assist his horse once again in the upcoming Belmont Stakes on June 7. At Belmont Park in Elmont, New York, the race is the third and final leg of the Triple Crown of US thoroughbred racing. After running arguably his best all-around race of his young career, the poorly pedigreed colt which is making a run for the horse racing record books faces stiff competition in his bid to become just the 12th Triple Crown winner in history.
Why California Chrome Will Win the 2014 Triple Crown
With just 11 Triple Crown winners since 1919 and none since 1978, winning all three of these important US thoroughbred horse races in just five weeks is incredibly difficult. But there are a lot of reasons to believe that California Chrome will do just that. First off, the horse seems to be getting better and better. Winning 6 straight stakes races on different courses, against different fields, and in spite of a combined $10,500 pedigree value, against the most talented thoroughbreds in the world is a historical achievement in and of itself. But when a horse does so even though its 77-year-old trainer and two first time owners of a one-horse-stable scratch their heads and say they are baffled as to this success, that horse has a great chance. California Chrome seemingly runs whatever type of race it needs to win against the particular horses it is up against that week. Unconscious excellence and an unbeatable desire to win bode well for legal horse betting's chance at a 2014 Triple Crown champion.
Why California Chrome Won't Win the 2014 Triple Crown
This argument could go on for days. The amount of evidence stacked against California Chrome's chances of winning the Triple Crown this year forms a veritable mountain. First off, only 11 horses have achieved this accomplishment, and another 22 have won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes and then failed to win at Belmont. So there is 2 to 1 odds against immediately. Also, in the past, many horses were held out of the Preakness to keep them fresh. Traditionalist horse trainers, like California Chrome's own Art Sherman, believe that two weeks after the Kentucky Derby is much too early to have a horse run. That is exactly the amount of time between the Derby and the Preakness, and then the Belmont shows up just three weeks later with a longer 1 1/2 mile run. The 146th Belmont Stakes will probably also include Commanding Curve, Danza, Wicked Strong and Samraat. Those horses finished second, third, fourth and fifth respectively to California Chrome in the Kentucky Derby and did not race the Preakness, so they are fresh and hungry. Additionally, Tonalist and Commissioner finished first and second in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont on May 10. There is a long list of horses which ran well at the Peter Pan race and then went on to win the Belmont.
Legal Horse Betting Favorites to Beat California Chrome at the Belmont Stakes
If California Chrome does lose at Belmont, who will win? Running 1 1/2 miles, the Belmont race is longer than either the Derby or the Preakness. And some horses run much better at that longer length. While California Chrome is unproven yet at the longer distance with a full field of talented runners, there are a few other horses which could make intriguing choices here. Kid Cruz was an afterthought in the Preakness, but as the son of the 1999 Belmont Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid, he may have the genealogy that prefers the longer track. Social Inclusion has not run nearly as many races as some other horses, and made a bid down the upper stretch at the Preakness. Commanding Curve came out of nowhere in the Kentucky Derby to finish second by 1 3/4 lengths to California Chrome, and was actually running faster than any other horse at the end. Will the longer Belmont track be just what that late driver needs? Intense Holiday, Samraat, Danza and Wicked Strong all skipped the Preakness, and are talented, tested horses that will be much fresher than California Chrome. Also, expect a much larger field than the Preakness, with owners and trainers looking to grab the $800,000 first place prize money that Belmont delivers.
Legal Horse Betting Wrap-up For the Weekend of May 16 - 18
Stopchargingmaria got back to winning with a victory on May 16 at the Pimlico Race Course, in the $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. Vero Amore pushed valiantly, and was beaten by just a neck at the wire. Revolutionary bested Prayer for Relief and Cat Burglar in the $300,000 Pimlico special also run on May 16. WinStar Farm's Revolutionary ran well on back through a hotly contested race, before giving Todd Pletcher the win by rounding its eight opponents. Fiftyshadesofhay finished ahead of Grace Hall and My Wandy's Girl to win this past Sunday's Grade 2 $250,000 Ruffian Stakes at Belmont Park, and Augustin Stable's Utley won the $400,000 Dixie Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday, May 17, despite decent odds against. The six-year-old home-bred horse had not won since April of 2013, and paid $17.00, $7.40, and $5.00 across-the-board.
