Triple Crown Whiner 'Ashamed' of Tantrum over Belmont Loss

Breitbart News ^ | June 9, 2014 | Elizabeth Sheld

[This Just In]

This morning on ABC News , Steve Coburn apologized for his sore loser remarks following the loss of California Chrome at the Belmont Stakes.

[Talisker]

LOL, there are none so blind as those who will not see.

Have a nice day.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

I thought he just wanted to whine for America.

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[Georgia Girl 2]

Or these guys could be trying to establish their own stable.

[This Just In]

Talisker, I applaud you for admitting to being blind and that you can’t see the elementary difference between “Doubting...sincerity”, and, “condemn”.

Always remember that the dictionary is your friend, and that words have meaning. Well, for those who are willing to see/read it.

[This Just In]

“Should he have been prevented from entering the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, which he won easily?”

According to the rules, no. The owner was not in violation of any rules, therefore entering his horse in the Preakness and Belmont was legitimate.

[This Just In]

Step away from the brew, Fester. You’re hearing voices again.

[discostu]

He didn’t get ganged up on, he didn’t bother to properly prepare his horse. No horse has won the TC without winning at Belmont BEFORE running the Derby. CC had never run at Belmont before, therefore had never won at Belmont before, and didn’t win when it count the most. And nobody was resting horses lying in wait, the 1 & 2 horses for the Stakes also finished 1 & 2 in the Peter Pan which happens at Belmont the week before the Preakness, so they had 1 week more rest, but had run a longer race. The important part is they knew how to win (or come in second) at Belmont, which CC did not.

That’s one of the big reasons for this TC drought. Owners aren’t preparing horses to win the Crown, they’re preparing them to win the Derby and hoping to get the other 2 on momentum or luck. Doesn’t work that way, the TC ends with the longest hardest race of the 3, and by not preparing their horses for that they are guaranteeing they can’t win the Crown.

Coburn isn’t crazy, but he is misguided. He didn’t bother to prep his horse for Belmont, instead prepping him for the Derby, and lost to Belmont ready horses. The only targeting involved was his LACK of targeting his horse to the right race.

[discostu]

The TC is still winnable. The problem is preparation. There’s a lot of CA based owners now that seem to have no interest in running their horse at Belmont until it’s time to win the TC, and because of that they lose. Meanwhile the owners based around Belmont whose horses run there, and win there, all the time, seem to have no interest in running in the Derby and potentially winning the Crown.

[1Old Pro]

Bottom line, the horse needs to win all three for the TC.

Only great horses can do it, just like you only get a handful of great human athletes every generation, same true for horses.

How many athletes dominate a sport? Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in the past 40 years in Golf. In Tennis we had McEnroe, Sampras, and 2-3 others in the past 40 years.

Same with horses, 3 in the 70’s was probably an anomaly and we probably average 1 every 20 years or 2 every 30 or 40.

[Fester Chugabrew]

"Trashing one's opposition is generally in poor taste in any sport . . ."

Feel free to launch an inquisition into what is arguably a normal course of events in sports: certain ones with high stakes get mouthy. What a boring spectacle sports would be if all the players were afraid to get a little mud on their tutus.

[Talisker]

While you’re thumbing through your dictionary, don’t look up “context.” It’ll just upset you.

LOL

[Talisker]

Interesting, I didn’t know that about Belmont. Thanks.

[Nepeta]

He didn’t get ganged up on, he didn’t bother to properly prepare his horse. No horse has won the TC without winning at Belmont BEFORE running the Derby.

Prior to the Kentucky Derby, there were many reports that California Chrome was not training well over the track, that he was moving stiffly and not stretching out and replicating the long strides he is known for. The reports improved as race day approached, and the horse had no trouble racing on the surface.

Before the Belmont, California Chrome was present for the longest period of time before any of these races. He had a good fast work over the surface, and every report I came across indicated that he was relishing the Belmont surface. I don't think a race over the surface of a track is required.

[Nepeta]

Meanwhile the owners based around Belmont whose horses run there, and win there, all the time, seem to have no interest in running in the Derby and potentially winning the Crown.

????

Phipps Stable is the last of the traditional eastern stables (this family bred Seabiscuit). While they are based at Belmont, they won the Kentucky Derby last year with Orb, and in the 1990s raced Easy Goer in the KY Derby and Preakness, finally winning the Belmont with him.

[discostu]

He might have relished the surface but that doesn’t mean he could win a race on it. And having not run a race on it prior nobody knew. And then he lost to a horse that won the Peter Pan there a month ago. If you want to win the TC win at Belmont FIRST, the pattern is pretty well established.

[Nepeta]

He might have relished the surface but that doesn’t mean he could win a race on it. And having not run a race on it prior nobody knew. And then he lost to a horse that won the Peter Pan there a month ago. If you want to win the TC win at Belmont FIRST, the pattern is pretty well established.

How do you explain Go and Go?

Won the Belmont here after being shipped from Ireland:

Belmont Park 6/9/1990 8 Belmont Stakes - Gr. 1 1
Leopardstown 5/12/1990 80920 Weight For Age Stakes 4
Phoenix Park 5/2/1990 80927 Weight For Age Stakes 1
Gulfstream Park 11/4/1989 8 Breeders' Cup Juvenile - Gr. 1 8
Laurel Park 10/21/1989 10 Laurel Futurity - Gr. 2 1
Curragh 9/9/1989 83054 Weight For Age Stakes
Curragh 8/19/1989 82906 Weight For Age Stakes 1
Galway 7/31/1989 82757 Maiden Weight For Age 1
Curragh 7/2/1989 82566 Maiden Weight For Age 6

Not only did Go and Go not have a race over the Belmont surface, he had been running on European turf courses, dealing not only with the turf but with the European style of running, dawdling most of the race then all out at the end.

[discostu]

Didn’t win the TC.

[Nepeta]

continued...

Ruler On Ice (2011) did not have a race at Belmont prior to winning.
Summer Bird (2009) no race at Belmont
Sarava (2002) no race at Belmont ....

[Toespi]

I watched CC going to the post. I noticed he was showing labored breathing, he appeared overworked. I also did not like the way he was carrying his neck and thought he was injured before the race. I come from a family of standardbred owners and trainers and we had a fabulous young pacer years ago. She couldn’t lose, until she became a bleeder, which was almost an overnight event. No matter how we warmed her up for a race her breathing was labored. I think CC was used too much prior to the Belmont which would have compromised his breathing.

[Nepeta]

What is magical about running over Belmont for the Triple Crown as opposed to running for the Belmont only?

I know why nearly all of the Triple Crown winners have prior starts at Belmont, and it has NOTHING to do with somehow acquiring an experiential edge!

Nearly ALL OF THE PAST TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS HAVE BEEN HOMEBREDS! MOST HAVE COME FROM STABLES OF LONG STANDING IN RACING, outfits like Belair Farm, Calumet Farm, King Ranch, Meadow Stable, and Wolfsons.

The people who bought Seattle Slew at auction were well aware of racing tradition, and hence, emphasized running in the classic, 2 y o races like the others named above, and these are run at Belmont Park. It ain't the track! It's the tradition!