Belmont Stakes, California Chrome

[mso489]

I'm watching the Belmont Stakes this evening, and I'll enjoy it no matter which horse wins,

but I would really hate to miss it if California Chrome wins the Triple Crown. I'm a late

comer to horse racing, and not much on betting though I do when I'm at a track. Like many

winners -- he's won the Derby and Preakness to be in line for the Triple Crown if he wins

at Belmont -- he's essentially self-motivated. The jockey just positions him correctly and

he has the competitive motivation and only needs to be held back so he won't spend all his

energy in this longest of the three races before he's in a position to finish at the front.

FYI, "chrome" is track slang for fancy white markings on a horse, taking it from the automobile

culture. He's a relatively small horse. He has to stay clear of traffic and save his "kick." None

of these horses has ever raced this distance. It's on NBC, about 6:30 p.m., but check that.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

There have been 12 horses since Affirmed won the Triple Crown in 78 who won both the KD and the Preakness only to lose in the Belmont Stakes. There are many reasons for this, but the long and the short of it is that it is a very difficult feat to accomplish, and is even more difficult to achieve today than it was in the 1970s or before. These are incredibly long distances races, which are atypical for modern thoroughbred horse races. Most horses today are bred for speed and not stamina, and it is the latter that you need to win, particularly in a 12 furlong race like the Belmont Stakes.
Clearly California Chrome is the favourite, and with good reason. Personally, I am putting $100 on Tonalist for an upset win.

 

[pipestud]

Tonalist is a good choice if you're looking to make money on a wager. At 3/5 I don't think Chrome will make anybody rich. I sure hope he wins... And I do hope the race is run AFTER Peck pays for what he purchased from me today since he's put his last dime to win on a horse that is no better than a second place finisher. :wink:
Pipestud

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Pipestud - If Tonalist wins then you will get paid; if he doesn't win, you ain't getting a dime. It looks like you already had a horse cross the finish line today in the form of a tin of Bell's Three Nuns. You surely don't need the money.

 

[pipestud]

LOL! Well, I do admit the family will be getting some beef in their beans tonight!
And I will personally send you your order for FREE, including the shipping IF Tonalist wins. I am pulling big time for the Chrome, but if he doesn't win it will be Ride On Curlin, who has all kinds of bottom in his breeding.
Pipestud

 

[salmonfisher]

My moneys on Ride on Curlin...

 

[eightywon]

Wow. Congrats peck!

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Looks like I won about $800. Shit, I could have bought that Three Nuns tin, LOL

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Seriously though, all three races are crazy long races. To do that three times in five weeks is unbelievably difficult. And to do it against some horses that haven't ran in all three races is crazy difficult, but that's the way it has always been. It was no different for Secretariat and Affirmed. It's that challenge that makes the Triple Crown what it is.

 

[pipestud]

You won more than $800 Peck. See my last post above. Those two Ravens Wing tins you purchased from me today will head your way Monday. With tears in my eyes I just sent you a PayPal refund. You made a whale of a pick and are to be congratulated!
As for Chrome; he just didn't have the bottom to get the distance. Sigh, another year goes by....
Pipestud

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Well, I can't seem to convince pipestud that his bet was purely in jest. Apparently there seems to be some sort of Texas Code of Honor about not "crawfishing on bets". So I will be offering up some samples of Raven's Wing at a later time in an effort to assuage my conscience.

 

[mrjerke]

If I was smart I would've listened to the guy who knows a thing or two about horses. Congrats Peck.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Well, my $100 paid out $1020 so I am $920 in the black, plus two tins of Raven's Wing. Now I need to find a pipe to buy, lol.
Mr Jerke, if I was that confident I would have bet more than $100. What I liked about Tonalist was (a) the fact that he was fairly rested, having run last on May 10, (b) his previous win on May 10 was at Belmont, so he is a proven performer on this track, and (c) his Beyer speed rating coming off the last race was very good and trending upward, and (d) I think Rosario is probably the best jockey in the sport today.

 

[mso489]

Since I started this post, I have to congratulate peck on a discerning and subtle pick. Being able to pick the long shot

is the payday in racing, and peck did that. I wouldn't mind owning CC, a horse that won the Kentucky Derby and the

Preakness; I'll take him!

 

[pipestud]

In horse racing, they say never place a bet with your emotions. I broke the golden rule and paid the price.
But hey, thanks to Peck's good nature, others will be able to sample Pease's no longer produced Raven's Wing, which I think is about as fine a tobacco blend that was ever made.
Again, congrats Peck, and enjoy that tobacco!
Pipestud

 

[Strike Anywhere]

Wow. What an interesting thread.
Peck congrats on cleaning up today.
Steve, you have once again proved you are a man of your word. Impressive. For those that don't know, Steve really knows horse racing (or used to). ;-)

 

[pipestud]

Well TAB, I think I'm now officially a horse racing has-been. :crying:
Pipestud

 

[mso489]

I still love the film, available on youTube, of Secretariat winning the Belmont Stakes. People had exactly the same

doubts about him as they did about California Chrome. They thought he'd spent his energies and would give it

up in this long race. Instead, the horse somewhat turned reality inside out. He was so far ahead of the field at

the end that the other horses appear in the distant background in the film and photos. It looks like they're

exercising him alone on an empty track. Some of those horses were likely well rested. This was just another

sort of animal.

 

[salmonfisher]

Congrats Peck
Not to forget, Secretariat (Big Red) had a Canadian on his back, a Fellow New Brunswicker.