Can he do it?

[Twitchin Kitten]

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LK, if you're meaning that "look back" at the 100 yards mark, that was the jockey how he gathered the reins to use the whip. He pulled the right side a little too tight and the horse drifted a bit. he straightened up once the jockey had both hands on the reins again.

I just watched the race 3 more times looking for that 'look back'.

[LKTraz]

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Well rip, shit or bust the horse wants to run. That much is evident.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Well rip, shit or bust the horse wants to run. That much is evident.

Yep, but the trainer is looking more and more like they're going to skip the Belmont.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Looks like he may go for it. News just said the colt just arrived in Belmont Park this morning.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Update:

The NYS Racing Commission allowed the nasal strip. Not just for them but for all racing horses.

Had a real good look at the horse on the news just now. He's a slight thing. Narrower in the chest than the rear, but not by much. Not enough to call him "a cement mixer" physique. He's got good flesh and you can see his ribs when he takes a deep breath, which is as it should be for a fit animal.

He's a pretty thing too.

So, Go Cal Chrome! We'll see what he's made of in two weeks! The Belmont is a tough race.

[LKTraz]

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Judging from the way Espinoza worked him in the Derby and Preakness I think he's going to let Chrome go full bore down the back and to the wire. I look to see him follow pace till somewhere around the middle to 3/4 mark in the last turn then cut him loose.

I honestly believe he held him back so as not to show what he could really do which may have allowed the other owners/trainers/jockeys to devise a strategy against them. Victor is a very experienced jockey and certainly uses his smarts. He seems to have a good bond with Chrome which is important. We'll see if we can FINALLY have another triple crown winner!

[Twitchin Kitten]

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you confuse me. "Full bore down the back and to the wire" is going to exhaust him. He'll have nothing for the stretch. This is a 1 1/2 mile race and it's going to be hot out.

Better to pace him. I want to see him win too!

Do you have any idea how hard it is to hold a Thoroughbred back? They're trained differently than other horses. They're taught to lean into the bit and that means the jockey pulls on the reins, where that action to the rest of the riding horse world, including Standardbreds (trotters and pacers), means to slow down. Most times if they have a horse who's running 'too hot' they'll keep him behind a slower animal to force them to slow down.

Being on top of a Thoroughbred is the most intense thing and I've gotten the privilege to do it only three times in my life. Never come out of the gate though. Just breezing or play racing and that's crazy enough! Nevermind trotters and pacers sitting in that sulky! That's crazy shit too. I've done that a few times and raced Standardbreds behind and on top in the saddle. Never for a 'real' race. Just breezing, practice runs, timing, training etc. But we get them up to full speed. If you don't wear goggles your eyes water like mad!

[LKTraz]

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Ok my terminology is probably off.

Take the last turn before the home stretch.....what I mean is that he'll let Chrome step up somewhere between midway and 3/4 through the last turn and cut him fully loose halfway down the home stretch.

Better explanation?

Watching the first 2 races Victor didn't cut him loose all the way. Yes it's not easy to hold them but it seems that Espinoza and Chrome are on the same page here. I truly believe that Chrome will be better at distance than anyone thinks.

[LKTraz]

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Here we go folks....it's crunch time at Belmont.

California Chrome is poised to be the first triple crown winner since Affirmed pulled it off 36 years ago.
10 years ago Smarty Jones was in the same position and it just wasn't meant to be as Birdstone edged him out for the win.

Personally I want to see Chrome get the job done. He's a good horse and it's obvious he WANTS to run. The only question now is, will he be able to go the distance?

[LKTraz]

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Tonalist was the spoiler!

Chrome and Wicked Strong finished in a dead heat for 4th.

The triple crown goes unclaimed for the 37th time.