Will There be a Triple Crown Winner This Year?

Go American Pharoah!
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(Adam Coglianese)

Can American Pharoah actually make it this year? 37 years have passed since the last Triple Crown winner, and many are giving up hope that it can be done in this day and age. Last year saw the same situation with California Chrome. He won the first two races, with high hope for the Crown, but unfortunately another horse stepped on him and he could not make the distance.

The Belmont Stakes is this Saturday, on NBC with coverage starting early but post time is approximately 6:50 ET. This is the longest race of the three, a mile and half, competing against 7 others many familiar from the past two races and most fresh from only racing one of them.

American Pharoah is clearly the favorite with so much riding on a win. Only 11 other horses have ever done it. 22 others have done exactly what he has so far and lost. Our hopes are with you Pharoah!

Amercan Pharoah at Belmont with pony friend Smokey:
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(Susie Raisher)

No Triple Crown This Year

Did you watch the disappointing Belmont Stakes race? For another year there is no Triple Crown winner.

Tonalist won:
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(BostInno)

It was clear that California Chrome just didn’t have what it took to make it to the end. He finished a very disappointing 4th. Was it the injury he sustained to his foot? Did he really just not have the power? And more, what of his owner’s attitude on the loss? The first and second place horses were both fresh to the competition and had placed the same way at the last race they both ran on the same course. Sure, it would be quite a different race if no new horses competed for these three races. It is much different to push a horse so much in so few weeks while having them compete with fresh animals who have experienced no such stress. And while that might be a way to see more Triple Crown winners, the sport has never been that way. If a horse can manage with all the stress and competition they are truly worthy of their title but if they only raced only the same horses it would be less of an accomplishment. I think the words of Chrome’s owner have overshadowed Chrome’s actual accomplishments and place a negative light on the whole thing. We must lose with grace and dignity, and it isn’t like Chrome is done earning them money. They are probably set, and Chrome will never be anything less than a champion.

– Fizz

2014 Belmont Stakes Saturday

The Belmont Stakes, the final race in the illusive Triple Crown, is this Saturday June 7! You can watch on NBC, the live coverage starts at 4:30 but I think the actual race takes place around 6 pm. On NBC sports you can see a show about California Chrome at noon, and then race day coverage from 2:30 on until post race coverage at 7.

Can California Chrome make racing history? Many horses have won the first two races only to fail to win the third and longest.

Chrome at Belmont Park:
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(Jason Szenes/EPA)

There are 11 horses in the race, some of which have been contenders against California Chrome since the Kentucky Derby. Wicked Strong is back for a second race against Chrome, and Ride on Curlin and General a Rod are back for their third go. Chrome will be running from the number 2 post position, which is sort of unfavorable (5 is the most favored) but the race is one of the longest, with the widest turns, and fewer horses than other races. Maybe even more important, Secretariat ran from an inside post position when he won the Belmont Stakes (even though he only had to beat 4 other horses no one is disputing his raw strength and ability).

Wicked Strong is a favorite to steal the win from Chrome because he is more fresh, placed well in his past two races, and has run best in New York. Ride on Curlin finished second to Chrome in the Preakness, who took the most favored post position number 5, could also pose a big threat. No one should forget Commanding Curve either, he raced against Chrome in the Kentucky Derby and finished in second place. The newcomer to the race which poses the biggest threat to Chrome is Tonalist, who won the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park, which has historically indicated a horse prime to place well in the Belmont Stakes.

Tonalist:
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(Chelsea Durand/NYRA)

Everything is uncertain at this point, I want Chrome to win but he has some impressive competition. It all comes down to race day, don’t forget to watch!

Interested in picking up some official California Chrome merchandise? I had no idea you could get such items, but given his popularity and the chance for a Triple Crown I am guessing this stuff is selling! Find it at the Belmont Stakes store here.
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– Cola

No Triple Crown This Year

I’ll Have Another has been scratched from tomorrow’s Belmont Stakes race due to a leg injury. Thus ends the possibility of a Triple Crown winner this year.There is a press conference scheduled for 1 pm today to address the scratch and reasons behind it. Only two other horses have won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and then not run in the Belmont – but that was before the Triple Crown title was such a prestigious goal.

This is an incredibly disappointing turn of events for horse racing, I’ll Have Another really had a chance. Maybe next year…

(Mark Lennihan/AP)