Support for California Chrome to win the Triple Crown has taken hold in California and the conversation where people meet and greet invariably turns to "Will the athletic copper horse win this third important race in the Triple Crown?"
California Chrome at Kentucky Derby
California Chrome is the 3-5 early favorite to win the Belmont Stakes and become horse racing's 12th Triple Crown champion.
© 2014 by Bill Brine
A flashing sign off the road in Coalinga, California, challenges California Chrome to bring home the Triple Crown. According to locals, the many green and purple T-shirts in Fresno make it look like a Mardi Gras festival.
California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby in Louisville and the Preakness in Baltimore. The last test is in the longest of the three races over five weeks, the mile and a half Belmont, which gets underway at 6:35 p.m. ET after Frank Sinatra Jr. sings New York, New York. If California Chrome can win at Belmont, he'll win the firstTriple Crown since Affirmed in 1978.
Twelve horses since Affirmed have won the first two legs. All have fallen short at Belmont, where California Chrome will have to overcome his modest pedigree and his state of birth. No California-bred horse has won the Triple Crown
Saturday, June 7, 2014, is the day that California Chrome can make history. The Derby and Preakness winner comes into his attempt at the first Triple Crown since 1978 on a six-race win streak, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down. The mile-and-a-half Belmont Stakes presents the California-bred’s biggest challenge. Many of his rivals in this race have been waiting and resting for another chance to take their best shot at him here, but so far he’s shown he is by far the best of the 3-year-old crop.