California Chrome Wins the Preakness Stakes
Geege Schuman stashed this in Horses
BALTIMORE — The Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome added a victory in the 139th running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, keeping alive his bid to become the 12th Triple Crown winner and the first since Affirmed in 1978.
Stashed in: Pwnies!, So you're saying there's a chance....
Very exciting! a shot at the Triple Crown :)
I KNOW!!!! <awkward cartwheel>
So you're telling me there's a chance?
There is and this horse is the stuff of legends!
But Chrome is a sprinter, right? Longer track is trouble.
Could be. Historically there have been more than a few horses who prevailed in the first two races of the Triple Crown only to fall short in the final.
"Since Affirmed swept the three races there have been 12 horses to win the first two legs but fail in the Belmont.
The dozen who missed since 1978: I'll Have Another (2012); Big Brown (2008); Smarty Jones (2004); Funny Cide (2003); War Emblem (2002); Charismatic (1999); Real Quiet (1998); Silver Charm (1997); Sunday Silence (1989); Alysheba (1987); Pleasant Colony (1981) and Spectacular Bid (1979).
Sunday Silence, Silver Charm, Real Quiet and Smarty Jones all finished second at Belmont Park.
The 11 Triple Crown winners: Sir Barton (1919; Gallant Fox (1930), Omaha (1935); War Admiral (1937); Whirlaway (1941); Count Fleet (1943); Asault (1946); Citation (1948); Secretariat (1973); Seattle Slew (1977) and Affirmed (1978).
Eddie Arcaro is the only jockey with two Triple Crowns (Whirlaway and Citation). Gallant Fox, the sire of Omaha, is the only Triple Crown winner to sire another."
(I liked Ride on Curlin for the Kentucky Derby, so nice to see him do well in the Preakness. http://www.horseracingnation.com/horse/Ride_On_Curlin# )
Okay so 11 double crown winners won the third race, and 12 lost. Roughly 50/50 odds historically.
I don't know much about horses, but are any horses good at that long a distance? The Belmont Stakes is 1 1/2 miles. I think California Chrome is a good mid range horse? seems to be good at short distance, and still pretty good at mid distances, but the longest? Are there horses that are terrible at short distance, but give them enough length, and they will beat the field?
Yes. That's why it's unusual for a sprinter horse like CChrome to win a long track like Belmont.
3:30 PM May 17 2014