American Pharoah Goes Wire To Wire In Belmont To Capture Triple Crown.

Pic.’s throughout blog can be clicked onto for full resolution.

 

 

 

 

When American Pharoah won the KY I did something I have never done before, not write a blog. The same with the Preakness even though when I thought he was caught but then just took off and never looked back, I said no I’m not going to write the same old. I hope, he’s got it so on and so forth. I wanted this horse to win the triple crown so bad I like every one else whose been a part of this love affair with horses through work like me or just the fans of the sport of thoroughbred horse racing…. I waited.

This magnificent horse who hadn’t lost a race since he broke his maiden was facing the biggest and grueling test of all. A mile and a half of The Belmont when no matter if you won the first two legs this last one is whether history gets made or not.

It had been 37 years. I was 21 years old when I watched Affirmed do it, his time for the race 2:26.80. Today American Pharoah did it in 2:26.65. Now whether in my lifetime I’ll ever see Secretariat’s record of 2:24.00 be broken, who knows. I’m just happy I got the chance to witness another triple crown win.

Does this horse know how happy he has made so many people and what he achieved today. I think God will convey it to him.

Secretariat’s owner Penny Chenery was at the race today, like all of us she was ready, hoping, praying another horse would be crowned. We all got what we wanted. These horses are in our blood and once in they never ever get out. Thank God.

I was also so happy for trainer Bob Baffert, this man genuinely has brought such talent to the sport. Ahmed Zayat came from money, spent a lot, lost a lot and for only being in the business 10 years I hope he knows how fortunate he is. There are some that have been in the racing game for 50 years and never won a statue of a KY Derby let alone all three legs.

As far as Victor Espinoza is concerned, I knew in 2011 when he donated 100% of a weeks winnings in S. California to help aid the health and welfare of the grooms I knew this man was pure class and had a heart of gold. His riding ability, the knack for knowing his horse and what he has underneath him, when to rate and exactly when to let go you just knew he would turn out to be the success he has become. The blessings has come full circle for him, what a ride it’s been from the chance last year with California Chrome to this one and I’m sure it will continue. What a lesson, never give up.

I do wish somebody would have thanked American Pharoah’s groom as they are the ones who spends the most time taking care of a horses every need from sun up to sun down. I know, I was a groom. Needless to say we know the contribution we make even if it’s not acknowledged. The exercise rider also needed a nod as well.

Today history was made, I felt like I wanted to drive down the street blowing my horn like when our city wins the Stanley Cup or World Series. That is what it felt like, screaming at the top of our lungs at a TV, open up, open up, open up, you got it, you got it.

LOL, my throat got sore. Yes it is that excitement and joy we all feel after waiting so long. Nothing in the world compares to it.

California Chrome Injured Out Of The Gate At Belmont And There Went History.

#3 Matterhorn stepped on California Chrome out of the gate.

If you don’t think this hurt think again. This poor horse was running on three legs instead of four.

 

But all of us in the horse racing business know that anything can happen in a race. On this occasion though it is more than sad because this injury alone could have cost California Chrome history.

Imagine a chunk getting taken out your heel down to the bone. Could you run a mile and a half? or a few yards for that matter. You know these horses are made out of flesh and blood like us.

There’s no doubt in my mind that the pain this horse withstood throughout the race was horrendous. I now pray it doesn’t turn out to be a quarter crack which can get quite serious.

And say what you will about owner Steve Coburn, NBC’s antics were infuriating.

You don’t rush in just seconds after the conclusion of a race to get a comment of any owner who has just lost a race much less one that was one leg away from winning the triple crown, especially a new owner that just entered racing.

This was a dream story, a couple of non millionaires who took a shot. Yes they very well knew how the triple crown worked before hand nevertheless Coburn at the heat of that particular moment spoke strictly out of pure heartbreaking emotion and I can’t begrudge him for it.

Yes he had a point that fresh horses who hadn’t run in the first two legs didn’t to have to endure the same, but again this has always been the triple crown history that all of the past winners have had to go through and face the same.

Usually the network having these three races would focus on the winning connections not immediately go to the loser, even if they had won the first two legs. To me this was like almost antagonizing Chrome’s owner.

Equally disturbing was the furthering of the matter by Bob Costas who I thought had a lot more class, by asking the winning owner right after the trophy presentation reciting Coburn’s words of it being the cowards way out and what he thought of that?

What in the world was he expecting as a response and what purpose did it serve on the live broadcast.

NBC should be ashamed of themselves. To me totally unprofessional and classless stooping to this level.

The Belmont has always been the ultimate test, a grueling mile and a half of the horse and strategy of the jockey. To go right to the lead in this distance you had better have some gas left in the tank and have a couple of extra kicks.

Victor Espinoza once out of the gate after what occurred made the decision to rate him and with no visible hole opening up it forced him to go 4 wide. In reality after seeing the picture of Chrome’s hoof, I wonder what he would have done on all four.

In my mind he is the champion that is. Whether it was this injury or simply the added distance, California Chrome placing 4th showed he has the heart.

You cannot take the KY Derby away from him nor the Preakness and we will always wonder if this injury hadn’t happened could he have indeed won the Belmont and made history. Sadly we will never know but again that is horse racing.

Now there is only one word on my mind. The Travers.

Not that he has anything more to prove to anyone, but if Chrome has healed completely with no complications what so ever, I’d like to see him & Tonalist run this race. If for anything to ease Steve Coburn’s mind.

Again only if Chrome is 1,000% because no race is worth anything happening to this worthy noble champion.

I applaud California Chrome!

 

 

 

To Be Continued….

Update: June 9, 2014
4:50PM

Co-Owner of California Chrome Steve Coburn Apologizes. ‘Ashamed’ of Angry Rant After Belmont Loss.

Steve Coburn, the co-owner of California Chrome today reined in his disappointment over losing the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown and said he was “very ashamed” and “was wrong” for his post-race rant.

“I need to apologize to the world and America,” Coburn said today on “Good Morning America.“ “I wanted it so much for this horse to win the Triple Crown for the people of America and I was very emotional, very emotional.”
“I sincerely apologize,” he said.

I’ll Have Another “Wont”.

…another race anyway.

Actually the injury the horse sustained could have caused him to blow a suspensory and depending how severe, it could have literally ended his life. So I commend the owner to decide just to retire him rather than brining him back to race again altogether. Hey he had a horse that won the first two races to the triple crown.

“Maryland racing is now owned by a dysfunctional entity that can’t make decisions” The one thing that separates Maryland Horsemen from Mi. ” UNITY “

Entire Excerpt:

“Maryland racing is now owned by a dysfunctional entity that can’t make decisions,” Foreman said. “We’re not going to stand for it anymore. (The MJC plan) was totally unacceptable to horsemen. They understand they may be shut out, but there has never been a greater show of unanimity.”

And that my fellow Michigan Horsemen/Women say’s it all.

Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen & Woman in same boat as Michigan’s. Both States also running neck and neck in Stupid.

Maryland Horsemen Fighting for Race Dates