May 18, 2014

Preakness Recap: Chrome Down 1 to Go

Since 2002, 5 horses (War Emblem, Funny Cide, Smarty Jones, Big Brown and I'll Have Another) had gone into the Preakness as the Derby champion and come out wearing the Black Eyed Susans. Yesterday that brotherhood added a 6th member (the 13th overall since 1978 when Affirmed won the Triple Crown) when California Chrome won the Preakness with Ride on Curlin second and Social Inclusion in third. He will head to the Belmont with the chance to become the 12th Triple Crown winner. The 2-3 from the Preakness are also likely heading to the race. It looks like there will be 2 horses (Commissioner and Tonalist) who did run in the Derby or Preakness as well as many as 6 from the Derby.

It's fitting that 10 years after Smarty that we have a horse from the wrong side of the tracks going after the Triple Crown. We have three weeks until Tom Durkin (Larry Columus on NBC) announces the winner of the oldest and longest Triple Crown race.

Some other thoughts:

* The nasal strips that where such contravsory when I'll Have Another won both Derby and Preakness have been brought up again as they are not allowed in NY. California Chrome wears one. That being said, Jay Privman of the DRF tweeted this:


If the Stewards want to see California Chrome in the race, they will more than likely need to allow it.

* Poor Ria Antonia. Sure people are going say Calvin gave her a bad ride. However, no matter the ride he gave she had absolutely no business being in that race. She has turned out to be a fluke, it's sad and a poor legacy for her sire who had so much heart.

* Ride on Curlin surprised me and honestly was the beneficiary of Ria being close. I don't really expect him to do well in the Belmont with there being better closers in the race.

* Kid Cruz was a little bit of a disappointment, it was a big step up but I thought he would finish better than 8th.

* Sigh wished Pablo del Monte was in the Derby, Wicked might have been 2nd than 4th at least.

* Hopefully I will be at Belmont and what a card with the Met Mile now being part of it!

So I will be starting Belmont coverage next week and videos are coming (this time I promise!) soon.

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