So DUers - will California Chrome become the first triple crown winner since 1978?

[malaise]

I sure will be watching

I actually like his chances

[dhill926]

1. I think and hope so….

[NV Whino]

2. Me two.

[monmouth3]

3. Me three..

[jaysunb]

4. Count me in. :) nt

[Aerows]

11. Regardless he has earned a place in history

but frankly, everything I've read about him is that he has a physique like Usain Bolt and an intellect (for a horse) like Einstein.

[Le Taz Hot]

5. He's a Valley (San Joaquin) boy, too!

Hometowns: Coalinga and Sanger. And boy howdy are we all excited here!

[onecaliberal]

42. I'm very near there and we are

Very excited as well.

[Le Taz Hot]

75. Well, howdy neighbor!

Frezburg here.

[onecaliberal]

76. I'm your

Neighborhood in the next city starting with a C.

[Le Taz Hot]

77. Well, welcome to DU.

[onecaliberal]

78. Thank you!

I'm a long time lurker.

[roody]

6. Who is California Chrome?

[dipsydoodle]

8. A gee gee

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Chrome

[LoisB]

7. Hopefully

[Aerows]

9. I hope he blares through the Belmont stakes

like he did during the Derby and the Preakness. Just phenomenal performance. He has his place as a first class racehorse in history, though. Fantastic horse! And I think he will. He runs like he is in a different race than the other horses.

[backwoodsbob]

16. actually

the derby and preakness were slow...I hope he wins but he won't be among the greats even if he does....even if he wins he will be a top ten all time at best

[Aerows]

17. Still wish him and his rider the best :)

I think he has the brains, the brawn and the social integration to do it!

[NV Whino]

21. Well, if it isn't Debbie Downer.

[backwoodsbob]

32. Debbie Downer?

I put good money on this horse to win the triple before the derby.

If he wins today I get 150 to 1

Needless to say i want him to win

GO CC

I could put a downpayment on a home if he wins today

Trust me...NO ONE is pulling for him harder than me

[upaloopa]

10. Yes I saw him win the Santa Anita Derby and

There isn't a horse who can beat him. My guess he will be at least two lengths ahead of the place horse.
I think he won his last 8 or 9 races. He can go 1 1/2 mile strong. None of the other horses has put together a string of wins.

[Aerows]

12. He's running a completely different race than the other horses

He's just running against himself. Usain Bolt with a streak of equine Einstein.

[sarisataka]

14. I still measure the horses against the best

I don't expect 31 lengths but come close to 2:24 to impress me

[Aerows]

13. I have bbq going and potato salad

But I can't wait to see him run . We have garlic bread, green salad, and beans, too!

[malaise]

19. Pass me some of that food

[Aerows]

24. Mmmm

BBQ....

[Aerows]

27. Nothing *too* extravagant

Boneless (or deboned - like to debone mine, actually need to tack on 30 minutes for each cycle if you aren't deboning the breasts or of you are using thights) chicken breasts seasoned then marinated with lime juice, fresh sliced onion and garlic cloves. A tomato slice on top of each of them. Popped into the oven. Cooked around 325 for an hour, flip and topped with another tomato slice, more lime juice, onion and another little bit of garlic. 325 for an hour more.

Flip, Completely cover with BBQ sauce, either homemade or what ever, add another tomato, lime juice and garlic to taste, douse it all with cheese so it melts all over it. Stick it back into the oven for about 25 minutes, or until everything is looking brown.

That's Aerows' oven BBQ chicken .

[malaise]

44. Sounds delish

Enjoy!!

[backwoodsbob]

15. yes

no secretariet blow em away moment but he should win

[MattBaggins]

18. No

[Amed]

20. Nope...

Hasn't this happened 11 times since the last triple crown?

[LLD]

22. Only 11 horses have ever won the Triple Crown in 95 years.

The 11 Triple Crown winners are Sir Barton (1919), Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935), War Admiral (1937), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943), Assault (1946), Citation (1948), Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), and Affirmed (1978).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Triple_Crown_of_Thoroughbred_Racing

[TexasProgresive]

41. Thanks for that info

Somehow I got it in my head that Man o'War was a triple crown winner. I see his owner did not want to race in Kentucky and thought the Derby was too early making the horses very young.

[PCIntern]

23. Quite possibly....

Exciting!!!! And fun to watch....

[warrior1]

25. What time does he run

[Brother Buzz]

26. Post time 3:52 PST

Twenty-eight minutes to soon for a California horse.

[Ptah]

36. I thought California was on Daylight Saving Time.

[Rhiannon12866]

37. Yes, it's in NY at 6:52 pm ET, believe NBC is carrying it

[Brother Buzz]

40. Picky, picky, picky

[trumad]

28. picking Commander Curve for this one

A mile and a half is perfect for him.

[Still Sensible]

29. Hope so!

If Espinoza stays patient and doesn't open up too soon, I think he has a great chance. His workout last weekend was very strong.

[Beaverhausen]

30. No- this track is the longest of the three and there are other horses that are better

at longer distances.

then again I am boycotting horse racing due to the abuse rampant in the sport. I just hope they all live through the race.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/21/peta-steve-asmussen-animal-cruelty-investigation_n_5001756.html

[malaise]

45. I stopped going to horse racing everywhere in 1980 because

of the abuse but I still watch the big races on TV.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

31. What happens when the odds flip?

The odds on Chrome are now at 4-5.

Does that mean you put up $5 bet and get $4 back? Am I wrong?

[trackfan]

33. You get $4, plus your bet of $5, so $9 total. n/t

[StarryNite]

34. I hate horse racing...it's cruel and the industry exploits the horses.

You look at it in a whole other light when you see a horse break a leg on the track and that is not uncommon.

"We will be paying close attention to the running of the Belmont Stakes this weekend, breathless about the prospects of California Chrome. But even if all the athletes cross the finish line unharmed, and even if there is a new Triple Crown winner, horse racing will still be in the grips of persistent problems it has chosen to run away from. At this point, the best we can say is that there are many good people within the industry, and they care about the welfare of horses, but that the leadership of the industry and too many rank-and-file owners, trainers and breeders are willing either to tolerate or participate in corrupt and unethical practices in order to win, place or show." Wayne Pacelle President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)

God Speed to not only California Chrome but to all the horses racing today and everyday.

http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2014/06/race-horse-drugging.html?utm_source=fb_postwp060714&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=waynesblog14

[OKNancy]

35. Commanding Curve

I hope California Chrome wins but if I were to bet, I'd put a few bucks on Commanding Curve

[LittleBlue]

38. My heart says yes, head says no

I sooooo want this dry spell to end.

Plus California Chrome is just a great name.

I'll go with "yes"

[Cali_Democrat]

39. I hope he loses

I hate favorites....unless it's my Lakers.

[Jefferson23]

43. Yep, he wins it. n/t

[kelliekat44]

46. Yes. nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

47. Magic 8-Ball says...

"Very doubtful"

[spanone]

48. we're about to find out!!!!

[malaise]

49. My fear is Wicked Strong

[spanone]

50. drum roll please!!!!!!

[malaise]

51. Spoiler

[warrior1]

52. Darn it

[Aerows]

53. Fuck

I knew Tonalist was going to get it the minute I saw him.

1 and 1/2 instead of 3/4 a horse with huge lungs runs away with it. That horse had a chest bigger than an oil tanker.

[malaise]

54. Not my horse but he won a great race n/t

[Aerows]

55. I wanted CC to win

But yeah, the second I saw Tonalist I said Oh shit. Look at the chest on that damn horse.

[malaise]

59. Just couldn't get the distance

They warned us - but my heart ruled today

[Aerows]

60. Look at that horses chest

Tonalist. He looks like a freaking train. Not able to run the fastest, but able to freaking run very fast FOREVER. That's the Belmont.

Edit: And Mine too. I so wanted CC to win!

[malaise]

61. Wow

He's cussing the owners for only running the horse in the Belmont - says coward's way out.
I don't like sore losers.

[Aerows]

62. What now?

I was on DU and not watching

[pinboy3niner]

66. See #63...

...and btw, Tonalist has a messaqe for you:

"Hey! My eyes are up here!"

[Aerows]

69. Sorry, it's a good indication of whether a horse is built

for distance, draft or speed. . I love horses, and I knew the minute I saw that horse that he was going to run the hell out of everybody if he had to go 1.5 instead of .75.

That horse could have gone on for about 4 more and still be not necessarily fresh, but not exactly tired, either.

[Aerows]

67. You aren't the only person noticing him losing ungracefully

I got to see this. If so, what an asshole!

[warrior1]

56. I knew in that idiot was saying

When New York teams play California teams that we get a Triple Crown winner he jinxed the whole thing the motherfucker.

[Aerows]

58. I said the same thing

What in the fuck is wrong with him?

[Keefer]

57. My guess is

No.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

63. The owner just flipped out on TV

Said basically it's not fair that horses run in the Derby, skip the Preakness and come back for Belmont fresh.

Sounded bitter.

[Aerows]

65. Jesus Christ

I have people saying Tonalist's owner was pissed because he couldn't win all of them (and probably couldn't because he was too heavy in the chest for a 3/4 but perfect for 1/1.5)

And people saying that people are complaining about the owner of CC, which does not seem to me at ALL his behavior.

[PCIntern]

68. I think he's right...

it is like bringing in a fresh ringer to ensure that the only TC winner would be a horse which was beyond exceptional. Makes you realize how unbelievable Secretariat was. I remember that day vividly...

[Aerows]

70. The point of the Triple Crown is to find a horse that can do all three tracks

They are all different. One measures speed, one measures agility, and one measures endurance.

[Mosby]

71. I think the issue is the qualifications

Tonalist was one of four horses that didn't race in the derby or preakness, and had only been in four races total. He is a long distance specialist, basically a ringer.

[Aerows]

72. Certainly has the chest of one

I knew that the second I saw him.

[PCIntern]

74. Uh-huh...I know that...

but if you have a bunch of horses who haven't run in the last 50 days, they have an advantage in a long race. The owner of the favorite was irate that he was disadvantaged in this regard.

I would agree with you that it limits Triple Crown Winners to clearly superior steeds...

[Jefferson23]

64. He lost :(

[underpants]

73. Gov. Cuomo is dating Sandra Lee (Food Network)?

News to me