California Chrome Shines in Preakness

 

The 139th Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown was won convincingly by the flashy Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome. 

 

 

After a sharp break, jockey Victor Espinoza quickly got the brilliant colt into the perfect position, just to the outside of the pace set by Pablo Del Monte and surprisingly, the filly Ria Antonia.  California Chrome sat comfortably in third on the outside while  Social Inclusion was fourth in the early going.  Pablo Del Monte and Ria Antonia threw down swift fractions of 23:56, 45.85 and 1:11.00. 

 

 

Around the far turn, the two pace setters backed out of it.  At the ¾ pole, Social Inclusion made his move and California Chrome went right with him.  It appeared that the two would hook up for a fight to the wire,  but the huge Chestnut surged away in his typical fashion and opened up lengths on the field. Ride On Curlin came with a furious rush, cutting into California Chrome’s lead with every stride, but had to settle for second by a 1 1/2 lengths.  It was six 1/2 lengths back to Social Inclusion who nudged out General A Rod by a head for third. California Chrome ran the 1 3/16 miles in 1:54.84. The final time was the fastest since Big Brown’s victory in 1:54.80.

 

 

Victor Espinoza had this to say about his Preakness trip:  “I was going to sit second, so I sit back until the other horse got clear of me and it worked out perfect.  The eight horse (Social Inclusion) moved a little early, I thought he moved too soon, but I had to go with him.”   

 

 

AN overjoyed and emotional Art Sherman stated, “It’s quite a thrill.  I knew he had to run harder. I’ll tell you one thing, he’s the real thing. We worked hard all year and Victor rode him perfect. New York, here we come!”