The last winner of the American Triple Crown was Florida-bred chestnut colt named Affirmed in 1978 - and he had the youngest Triple Crown winning jockey in the stirrups - Steve Cauthen. In the past 36 years, 12 horses besides California Chrome have won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, but no other has also won the Belmont Stakes. I remember being amazed when Secretariat won the Triple Crown in 1973; I thought Seattle Slew was awesome in his win; and then (living in Florida, at the time) I was ecstatic about Affirmed.
Saturday will be a huge test for California Chrome - he will try to become the 12th horse in history to win the American Triple Crown. He and ten other colts will carry 126 pounds only once around the huge one-and-a-half mile track at Belmont Park. It will be a test for Victor Espinoza, Chrome's jockey, as well. I don't believe that Victor has ridden at Belmont before; and at most tracks, as one enters the final turn, there is about one-quarter mile left in the race - at Belmont, there is a half mile left. A lot of jockeys without experience in the Belmont, and/or on the Belmont track, have lost the race due to misjudging the distance. I hope this will not happen on Saturday. Even though California Chrome is the odds-on betting favorite, at 3 to 5, I'd love to see another Triple Crown winner.
Following are the post position numbers, the horse's name, the jockey's name, and the morning odds:
1. Medal Count, Robby Albarado 20 to 1
2. California Chrome, Victor Espinoza 3 to 5
3. Matterhorn, Joe Bravo 30 to 1
4. Commanding Curve, Shaun Bridgmohan 15 to 1
5. Ride On Curlin, John Velazquez 12 to 1
6. Matuszak, Mike Smith 30 to 1
7. Samraat, Jose Ortiz 20 to 1
8. Commissioner, Javier Castellano 20 to 1
9. Wicked Strong, Rajiv Maragh 6 to 1
10. General a Rod, Rosie Napravnik 20 to 1
11. Tonalist, Joel Rosario 8 to 1
More about the horses later.....
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