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Tag: California Chrome

  • Belmont Stakes: Tonalist Wins, No Triple Crown for California Chrome

    The Belmont Stakes saw history making hopes dashed yet again on Saturday. Tonalist won the race, meaning California Chrome didn’t win that coveted Triple Crown. Tonalist was ridden by jockey Joel Rosario.

    Hopes ran exceedingly high prior to the race, in hopes that California Chrome would become the first horse in 36 years to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes for a sweep and the Triple Crown win.

    ESPN racing expert Hank Goldberg told CNN earlier on Saturday, “I think we’re going to see history.”

    California Chrome was favored to win the Belmont Stakes where a crowd of about 100,000 people watched in anticipation.

    “I expect him to win,” co-owner Steve Coburn said prior to race time. “I really do.”

    This was Mexican jockey Victor Espinoza’s second shot at winning the Triple Crown. Twelve years ago he captured the first two legs of the Triple Crown riding War Emblem. Sadly he stumbled out of the gate and never even threatened at the Belmont Stakes.

    “Very few horses go in all three races and there are a lot of good horses in the field on Saturday that will be fresher,” Espinoza told CNN before the race Saturday. “That’s why it’s so, so tough.”

    Tonalist is trained by Christophe Clement and owned by Lane Gold. Even though he has denied California Chrome a chance at making history, he still deserves his rightful place as the winner of the Belmont Stakes. Commissioner took second place at the Belmont Stakes with Medal Count coming in third. Sadly California Chrome placed fourth–a far cry from what was expected of the horse. His owner tweeted out a very sportsman-like message following today’s race.

    Another chance has passed at seeing a Triple Crown winner, but who knows what next year will bring? California Chrome seemingly came out of nowhere this year and got a shot at making history at today’s Belmont Stakes. Who’s to say that can’t happen again in the near future?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • California Chrome Winner of Kentucky Derby

    California Chrome is the winner of the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby. The 2 to 1 favorite as he entered the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs, the odds weren’t in this horse’s favor. He is trained by a 77-year-old man named Art Sherman who never trained a Kentucky Derby horse before. In addition California Chrome never raced outside of California–his home state. To top off the unusual win, the horse is owned by a couple of guys who call their stable ‘Dumb Ass Partnership.’

    No one ever said dumb asses couldn’t win–right? California Chrome more than proved that on Saturday evening. Coming in for a second place finish at the Kentucky Derby was Commanding Curve.

    Danza–named after actor Tony Danza–came in third place.

    The win marked the second for California Chrome’s jockey Victor Espinoza. It also means Art Sherman is now the oldest trainer to ever win the Kentucky Derby.

    “He gave me the biggest thrill I’ve ever had in my life,” Sherman said following the exciting win.

    Dumb Asses Steve Coburn and Perry Martin (do you think they use that title?) were offered $6 million for 51 percent ownership of California Chrome prior to the Kentucky Derby today, but they turned the offer down, hoping instead for a Kentucky Derby win.

    And they got it, too, along with $1.4 million. That definitely makes them smart asses instead–right?

    “We’ll see you all in Maryland, and then we’ll see you all in New York,” Coburn told NBC after the race, referring to the Preakness Stakes in Maryland and Belmont Stakes in New York, the final two legs of horse racing’s Triple Crown. “Yes, we’re going. We’re going. Why not?”

    Congratulations to Dumb Ass Stables owners Coburn and Perry, along with trainer Art Sherman–but most of all to California Chrome who is the new Kentucky Derby victor.

    Image via Twitter