Posted on 06/08/2014 6:59:04 AM PDT by Morgana
Edited on 06/08/2014 7:02:07 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
NEW YORK (AP) -- California Chrome sustained a bloody gash to his right front foot during the Belmont Stakes, an injury that may have hurt his chances in his failed bid to sweep the Triple Crown for the first time in 36 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at hosted.ap.org ...
Guaranteed winner.
Cannot lose.
Greatest horse in history.
Race decided before it began.
Followed by:
Totally ripped off.
The rules are stupid.
Those other horses were more rested.
His foot was hurt.
Whoever is doing PR for the owner is doing an outstanding job. There has been an ocean of ink spilled for this horse. I'm in no position to judge the horse, but the publicity team is the best on the planet.
This should make the race more fair and equitable for Mr. Coburn's delicate sensibilities.
Yea I heard him winning too. I have to think this gash did not help the poor horse though.
Publicity or con to make millions?
He’ll live.
Congratulations to Tonalist. Clement is one of the best trainers in the business and Evans’ family has been in breeding/racing for decades. Happy for them.
Publicity or con to make millions?
****************
Either way they have done well on their $10,000 horse investment.
In the handicapping aspect of the race, the concept was to find value and try to maximize the availability. California Chrome was a good horse who benefitted from a subpar year of three year olds. I follow the sport nearly year round including watching the prep races early in the calendar season. He got stronger and was more successful especially under the current jockey after a switch.
In the Derby, it was a 19-horse field and the unknown commodity was how would he react to a larger field. Oftentimes, value can be found in that race, too. However, he won, though not overwhelmingly, and so the journey took the next step.
In the Preakness, he was the class of a reduced field and the story was magnified.
I likened him to Big Brown who had a similar journey back in 2008. A solid horse but one not facing what I thought was a stellar field of opponents.
Yesterday, the horse named Commissioner had arguably the top jockey and top trainer in the nation. It finished second but at a price of 28-to-1. That is a dream for handicappers. It doesn’t always win but these races often have value.
Running three races in five weeks is difficult. One of those three finished in last place yesterday though that may also be injury related. He finished second in the Preakness.
Yea as the song says “Two out of three ain’t bad”
I hate Horse Racing .I always think they will be hurt .
Dash for cash ruined by gash.
I kind of agree with Chrome’s owner, Coburn. He says that only horses that are entered in the Kentucky Derby should be allowed to run in the Preakness and Belmont.
California Chrome was bested by a horse (Tonalist) that had not run in the other two previous races. Tonalist was fresh for the longest race of the three.
Hoof Goof keeps him aloof
That is why winning the TC is so special.
That is not a decent argument.
These are three distinct races. No one has to enter all three. Winning all three is difficult, like winning a grand slam. It takes different abilities and skills and some chance (weather, competition) to win any one race, let alone these three. Whining about your opponents is poor sportsmanship. The dude believed the media.
California Chrome ruined the story. We love stories about athletes who rise from humble beginnings to win big in tough times. Cinderella Man.....Seabiscuit......Secretariat....the 1980 US Hockey Team. Sylvester Stallone rode that story to become a millionaire. California Chrome was supposed to be the athlete that took the heat off of Obama, and he didn’t do it.
When I re-thunked it I realized you are right. Even if the rules were the way Chrome’s owner wanted them, there would still have to be an asterisk by Chrome’s name, since all the other Triple Crown winners had won by the established rules.
So it wouldn’t have mattered if the other horses raced in the other TC races, or not.
A horse worthy of the TC defeats all comers.
The three races are independent of each other, each with their own criteria.
The owner expected a coronation, not a race.
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