By Tom LaMarra,
Steven Coburn and Perry Martin's California Chrome kept Triple Crown hopes alive with a smooth trip victory in the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico Race Course May 17 (VIDEO).
With wins in the Preakness and Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), California Chrome will head to New York for the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) June 7 and a chance to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.
With Victor Espinoza riding for trainer Art Sherman, California Chrome got a trip similar to that in the Kentucky Derby; he rated just off the early leaders, bid on the far turn, made the top and drew away to victory. At the finish the Lucky Pulpit colt had 1 1/2 lengths on fast-closing Ride On Curlin, who was 6 1/2 lengths ahead of third-place finisher Social Inclusion. General a Rod was fourth.
The time for 1 3/16 miles on a fast track was 1:54.84.
California Chrome, the heavy favorite, paid $3, $3, and $2.40 across the board. Ride On Curlin returned $5.60 and $3.80, while Social Inclusion paid $3.40. The $2 exacta was worth $18.20 and the $2 trifecta paid $76.
The early pace was set by Pablo Del Monte and jockey Jeffrey Sanchez from post 9. Espinoza put California Chrome in the mix early from post 3 just outside of the leader heading into the first turn, but the filly Ria Antonia was sent up outside of the favorite by Calvin Borel. Espinoza then had to back off a bit and ended up stalking the top two through an opening quarter-mile in :23.56 and a half-mile in a lively :46.85.
When Ria Antonio back off heading into the far turn, California Chrome made his move outside of Pablo Del Monte. But Luis Contreras got Social Inclusion under way, and California Chrome was sandwiched for a brief period before he took the lead after six furlongs in 1:11.06.
Social Inclusion, who acted up in the gate, couldn't keep pace with the winner. The only competitor with a shot in the final eighth of a mile was Ride On Curlin, who rallied from ninth early under Joel Rosario in a quality effort.
"It's an awesome feeling," said Espinoza, who in 2002 won the first two legs of the Triple Crown with War Emblem but lost the Belmont . "It was a crazy race. I got more tired mentally than physically. It worked out well and he's an amazing horse. I saw a horse go to the front and I said, 'I'll sit behind him.' Then I saw another one come, and I had to use my breaks. But as soon as the other horse got clear of me, it worked out perfectly."
"It's quite a thrill," Sherman said. "I knew we had to run harder to win this race. He's a real racehorse, and I hope a mile and a half is up his alley, too."
California Chrome was bred in California by his owners. He is the first California-bred to win the Preakness since Snow Chief in 1986.
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/85143/chrome-wins-preakness-shot-at-triple-crown#ixzz321MCZ3TS