California Chrome blows historic bid

SACRAMENTO, California—Sacramento sulked last Saturday (Sunday in Manila) following California Chrome’s debacle in the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes.

The 3-year-old stallion with a Central Valley connection was the heavy favorite to win the last and longest leg of horseracing’s elusive Triple Crown.

The popular chestnut colt was bred at Harris Farms in Coalinga, a three-hour drive towards Los Angeles from here.  His co-owner, Perry Martin, hails from Yuba City, 40 miles north of this capital city.

California Chrome finished fourth in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, proving once more that the racetrack in Elmont, New York, is the house of horrors for would be Triple Crown winners.

Sacramento’s jaw dropped in disbelief as Chrome, the 4-5 choice failed in the stretch. He is the only Golden State-bred horse to win the first two Triple Crown races—the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby on May 3 and the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes on May 17.

Ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, the horse yielded to Tonalist (12-1) with Joel Rosario aboard, Commissioner (27-1), with Javier Castellano and Medal Count (26-1) with Robbie Alvarado, in that order.

The fancied horse settled for a dead heat for fourth with Wicked Strong (5-1), thus ending California’s dream of placing a pony in the pantheon of only 11Triple Crown winners since 1919.

The Triple Crown, one of the sporting world’s rarest feat was won last by Affirmed, a Florida-bred chestnut stallion.

The last two horses with a chance to win the Triple Crown at Belmont were Big Brown in 2008 and I’ll Have Another in 2012.

California Chrome’s failed historic bid also ended North American horse racing’s quest for something that would get it out of the doldrums.

The sport of kings is going bust in the United States and Canada although it appears booming in other parts of the world, including the Philippines.

“A historic run ends in failure again,” said Tony E, of Yuba City who chose to join 40 or so members of the local Bayang Karerista and a shoulder to shoulder crowd at the Cal Expo satellite wagering facility here.

He reported that some of Yuba City’s 600-strong Filipino community planned to join a viewing party with big screen TV at the downtown district.

The festivities were in support of Chrome co-owner and local resident Martin, who runs a testing laboratory in Sacramento.

California Chrome’s mother was purchased for $8,000 and retired by Martin and business partner Steve Coburn of Topaz Lake, Nevada.  His sire was a cheap stallion with a $2,500 stud fee.

The Sacramento Bee reported that Martin and Coburn “resisted offers of $6 million and $10 million to sell their star before the [Kentucky] Derby.”

The Bee said “industry speculation now pegs the stallion’s value at $15 million to $18 million.”

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There’s still time to view an exhibit of photos and memorabilia of some of our sports heroes currently being held at the lobby of Resorts World Manila.

The display, organized by sports broadcaster Chino Trinidad ends June 15 before moving to a permanent home.

Called “Pagpupugay,” the exhibit highlights 100 years of Philippine sports and pays tribute to 19 local sports heroes.

Trinidad and company will fete honorees, led by six-time world bowling champion Rafael Nepomuceno and Asia’s first chess grandmaster Eugene Torre during ceremonies on June 12.