Chrome To Break From Post Position Two in Belmont

California Chrome put in an eye-catching workout over Belmont Park's main track on May 31 in preparation for the Belmont Stakes. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
By Tom Pedulla, America’s Best Racing
ELMONT, N.Y. – Luck is surely an element in any Triple Crown try, and good fortune continued to go the way of California Chrome when he drew the second post position on Wednesday and was established as an overwhelming 3-5 favorite for the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes.
“Number two is a short way to the first turn, so I’m happy,” said jockey Victor Espinoza.
California Chrome was assigned post five in what became a field of 19 when he won the Kentucky Derby by 1 ¾ lengths. He broke from the third position in the gate when he opposed nine other rivals two weeks later in the Preakness.
Art Sherman, Chrome’s 77-year-old trainer, said of the draw for the Belmont marathon on Saturday: “It’s a good post. Going a mile and a half, at least we will save some ground.”
Sherman added, “It gives you a chance to see who has speed going into the first turn.”
Wicked Strong, who finished fourth in the Derby before skipping the Preakness, is the second choice in the morning line at 6-1. He will leave from post nine for jockey Rajiv Maragh. Tonalist, who missed the opening two legs of the Triple Crown but won the Peter Pan Stakes on a sloppy track, follows in the morning line at 8-1. He will have Joel Rosario aboard.
Ride On Curlin, the Preakness runner-up, will start from post five and is listed at 12-1. He attracted the services of John Velazquez, a two-time winner of the “Test of the Champion,” after Rosario opted for Tonalist and Christophe Clemente, a trainer he rides for steadily. Commanding Curve, who placed second in the Derby, will start just inside of Ride On Curlin in fourth. He is rated at 15-1 and will have Shaun Bridgmohan aboard.
Dallas Stewart, who conditions Commanding Curve, said his greatest concern is for a clean, safe race. “I don’t want to beat him because he got into trouble,” he said.
Although trainer Todd Pletcher skipped the Preakness for the third consecutive year, he will take his shot with Commissioner (post 8, 20-1) and Matterhorn (post 3, 30-1), who ran second and fourth, respectively, in the Peter Pan.
Pletcher said of the chances of upsetting Chrome, “There would need to be a little drop-off from him and a step forward from another horse.”
Of the Belmont field, Chrome, Ride On Curlin and General A Rod (post 10, 20-1) are the only starters to participate in all three races of the series.
Pletcher said of the freshness factor the other horses enjoy: “I think it’s an edge. That is one reason the Triple Crown is so hard to win. When you get horses like Wicked Strong and Tonalist, who have proven they are good horses and have time between races, that is what makes it so hard for the California Chromes who ran the middle leg.”
$1.5-million Belmont Stakes
Saturday, Belmont Park, Race 11, 6:52 p.m. ET
1 1/2 miles, dirt, 3-year-olds
Television: NBC coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. ET

PP

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

Odds

1

Medal Count

Robby Albarado

Dale Romans

20-1

2

California Chrome

Victor Espinoza

Art Sherman

3-5

3

Matterhorn

Joe Bravo

Todd Pletcher

30-1

4

Commanding Curve

Shaun Bridgmohan

Dallas Stewart

15-1

5

Ride On Curlin

John Velazquez

Billy Gowan

12-1

6

Matuszak

Mike Smith

Bill Mott

30-1

7

Samraat

Jose Ortiz

Richard Violette Jr.

20-1

8

Commissioner

Javier Castellano

Todd Pletcher

20-1

9

Wicked Strong

Rajiv Maragh

Jimmy Jerkens

6-1

10

General a Rod

Rosie Napravnik

Mike Maker

20-1

11

Tonalist

Joel Rosario

Christophe Clement

8-1

SLIDESHOW: CALIFORNIA CHROME ON THE TRIPLE CROWN PATH