Belmont Recap: The Other Pulpit Grandson

All eyes where on California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) on weather or not he could win the Belmont Stakes and finally become the 12^th Triple Crown winnner. However somebody forgot to tell Tonalist that he would be the spoiler that would hand California Chrome his first loss in 7 starts. The son of Tapit out of the Pleasant Colony mare Setting Mist held of Commissioner (the final son of A.P Indy to run in the Triple Crown) to win the Belmont. Medal Count (Dynaformer) was third. California Chrome dead-heated for fourth with Wicked Strong (Hard Spun).

It was the first Belmont win for his jockey Joel Rosario (who jumped off Preakness runner up Ride On Curlin), trainer Christophe Clement (whose best known dirt horse before Tonalist was Dynver) and owner Robert Evans (the son of Thomas and brother of Ned, both where horse racing owners (Paul had Pleasant Colony (who of course is Tonalist's grandpa) and Ned's most famous horse owning was Quality Road, but is the breeder of Horse of the Year Saint Liam (Saint Ballado) whose most famous foal I will be talking about shortly).

Even though Tapit like Lucky Pulpit is a son of Pulpit (A.P. Indy), Tonalist's female family is much better than Chrome's. His second dam Toll Fee of two mares who are the dams of G1 winner Riskaverse (Dynaformer) and G1 winner, boy beater, as well as 2011 Horse of the Year Havre de Grace (Saint Liam).

Here are some thoughts:

• Steve Coburn= sore loser; People might say he was drunk (which is wrong when you know you are doing a television interview) or it was the heat of the moment type of thing, but to throw the three horses who beat you fair and square and their owners under bus by calling them cowards for skipping the Preakness (or in the case of the first two both the Derby and Preakness) is disgusting. Mr. Coburn should know that 3 of the 5 TC spoilers in the last 12 years skipped the first two legs (Sarava, Da' Tara and now Tonalist). What was a great story turned many people off, although I wasn't a big fan any respect that I had left is now gone. Changing the Triple Crown isn't going to happen at this time.

• That being said, Chrome did get stepped on by Matterhorn at the start. You could say that the latter is Pavo to Chrome's Rockport Harbor. (watch the 2004 Remsen to understand)

• I'm so glad Mr. Evans was classy enough to say no comment about Mr. Coburn's comments. I hope people don't start hating Christophe or Joel as they where just doing their jobs. Joel even said that he was rooting for Chrome to win.

• Hope Ride On Curlin and Matuszak who where DNF's in the race are okay.

• Sure he didn't hit the top three, but so happy that Wicked Strong ran well in both the Derby and the Belmont.

• You gotta feel bad for FL Derby winner Commissioner. His prep race for that was an allowance which he won. The runner up was Tonalist and 4^th placer was Wicked Strong. Injuries suck sometimes.

• It's a shame that A.P. Indy never had a foal win a Derby, but in a way he got the TC with his great-grandsons. I'm sure he is proud of both Chrome and Tonalist. Plus his son was runner up!

• Pulpit we miss you!

• Tapit had been enigma as an sire with brillant foals, but super injury proness. Tonalist could change that (he missed the Derby due to missing his final prep due to illness, not injury). Gainesway has to be extra proud that not only do they stand him, but another member of his TC class, Belmont winner Birdstone.

• Joel Rosario was thrown under the bus by Ride On Curlin's trainer after he jumped ship. Okay throw Calvin Borel (who didn't give him a Calvin ride in the Derby) under, but Joel and not him has the Belmont win.

• Funny story, NBC had shown a replay of the 2008 400 Men's Free Relay which was Gold Medal #2 for Michael Phelps (who attended his hometown race the Preakness this year, a day after he won his first race in his comeback). The US had beaten France that day, Christophe is a native to... France. So Viva La France!

• To sum up this year's Triple Crown, I there isn't really one way that I can do so. It's weird to say that, but I wasn't a huge California Chrome fan. However I feel that despite his owner he is this generation's Funny Cide and Smarty Jones. My sister who I know doesn't like horse racing was the first person to ask me weather he won or not. That is something that I had never expected to happen at all. I'm sure there are people who will have simlar stories to me, but could be very different than that.

Some other thoughts on the undercard:

• Beholder might be the female Lava Man in that she hates running outside of CA. (Read the Phipps recap here)

• Palace Malice is the leader in the HOY talk (Read the Met Mile recap here)

• Smart move to keep Kid Cruz out of the Belmont as he won the Easy Goer. Could be a serious contender in the Jim Dandy. Social Inclusion who also would have been Belmont bound was second in the Woody Stephens which was won by Bayern.

• I think it's time for Stephanie's Kitten to retire after she really never fired in the Just a Game.

• Sweet Reason had come back with a win! Atta girl.

So that's it! I will be back with a few announcements in the next few days or so. Till then!

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:

Significant aspect of nasal strip situation: not a state racing rule, nor Belmont house rule. Based solely on stewards' discretion.
— Jay Privman (@DRFPrivman) May 18, 2014

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.

Derby Recap: California Boy

Once upon a time there was an 18 year old named Art Sherman. Now Art in 1955 traveled on a train from Southern California to Louisville, KY with a horse named Swaps who he exercised rode. All the Khaled (GB) California bred had done is win the San Vicente and Santa Anita Derby and was heading to the Kentucky Derby. In that race he defeated Nashua who would go onto win the Preakness and Belmont. While Swaps sired a Derby winner, Nashua is the broodmare sire of Mr. Prospector, possibly the most important sire for the modern Thoroughbred.

Flash forward to 2014, Art is now 77 years old and a trainer. He goes to the Derby with the favorite California Chrome. Just like Swaps, the Lucky Pulpit California bred won the SA Derby and was KY Derby bound. Before the race, his owners Perry Martin & Steve Coburn (who also bred him) where offered $6 million for 51% ownership in him. They said no, and they where rewarded with a KY Derby win.

Congrats to Perry, Steve, Art and jockey Victor Espinoza who picked up his second Derby win (the first was in 2002). California Chrome is the first CA bred to win the race since Decidedly wore the Roses in 1962 and only the fourth overall.

Here are some other thoughts.

* Poor Rosie, won the Oaks and finishes last in the Derby.

* Danza may have cut off Wicked Strong (from what I read on Twitter), but I have to watch the replay.

* Surprisingly I'm actually okay with WS getting fourth considering he may have gotten cut off by Danza. Hopefully they skip the Preakness and try to spoil in the Belmont (if CC wins the middle jewel).

* I picked a Lucky Pulpit in 2012 (Rousing Sermon) ... uh can I have a redo on that?

* Commanding Curve surprised me, wished ownership-mate Ring Weekend was there instead though.

* How cool that Tony Danza came to root the horse named after him!

* Gary Stevens complained that Wicked Strong cut him off... that might be true, but he didn't have a chance to win anyway (my opinion of course)

* The two recent Derby winners that CC would be comparable to are 2003 winner Funny Cide and 2004 winner Smarty Jones. In matter of fact, I said on Twitter that if those two could have a child together, he (or she!) would be CC.

* Untapable has the opportunity to become the heir apparent to Rachel Alexandra after her win in the Oaks on Friday. No it wasn't a Rachel length winning margin, but time was fast and it looks to be a bit of a weaker male crop. Sounds like no Preakness though.

* Speaking of Smarty, an icon from his home city of Philadelphia Julius "Dr. J" Erving gave the riders up call!

* If you thought I'll Have Another's post position pony Lava Man was legendary, well California Chrome's was just as amazing. His name is Perfect Drift and he finished 3rd behind Victor and War Emblem in the 2002 Derby. He would go onto win the 2003 Stephen Foster (defeating that year's HOY Mineshaft). Lately he's been splitting time between the KY Derby museum and his owners farm in Kansas, but last year at 14 he started his ponying career. 1 Derby, and he's got a winner not bad Drifty not bad.

* Art breaks a 25 year old record that was held by Charlie Wittingham. That is the oldest trainer to win the Derby.

* It's too early say Triple Crown will be won this year, the Preakness is always the tricky one (yes even more then the Belmont).