Just how good is California Chrome?

[bdw0617]

I mean, I've always like him as a good horse and thought he was good enough to win the Derby. But he's transending, even if he loses today into "that conversation"


I know raw times are not the end all be all, but only 2 horses have run faster preakness in the last 15 years than CC.. curlin in 2007 who had to as he was all out and Louis Quatozse (sp) in 1995.


CC's preakness is faster than point given, smarty jones, afleet alex, alysheba, sivler charm, charismatic, all of those horses. It's not that far off form sunday silence and specticular bid's preakness.



That's why I think we see history today. For the first time in my horse racing life time I am watching a horse that I honestly think belongs in that conversation. I never really thought smarty hones or war emblem or silver charm were that cut of horse though i wanted them to win. I think CC belongs there.

[Joltman]

That Preakness run, with multiple horses taking shots at him, took part of the edge off in the Belmont, IMHO.
jm

[Mahubah]

He looked like a tired horse today -- not exhausted, but "over the top," as the old-timers used to say. Blood-Horse also reports that he grabbed a quarter, possibly at the starting gate. He's still quite a good horse and may even be a great one; hope he will compete later in the year and as a 4yo as Art Sherman wishes.

[geowarrior]

He's done as much or more than Palice Malice had at this time last year. Look at Palice Malice now!

[jagger]

I liked Art Sherman's training regimen up until yesterday. I think he should've given him the day off.

[bdw0617]

I agree.

[FOS]

hi Mahubah

He looked like a tired horse today -- not exhausted, but "over the top," as the old-timers used to say. Blood-Horse also reports that he grabbed a quarter, possibly at the starting gate. He's still quite a good horse and may even be a great one; hope he will compete later in the year and as a 4yo as Art Sherman wishes.

California Chrome is a very good, very honest horse; and he's been very lucky too (for example...he drew excellent posts for both the KyDerby and Preakness). And that's not a knock, as you know...racing luck can be (and often is) a difference maker.

Up until today CalChrome's appeared to be the best of his generation (at least to my way of thinking), but this is seemingly generation so-so...and NOT generation WOW.

Respectfully

[Jorge]

This year's Triple Crown series reminds me so much the 1969 episode
when a weight-losing Majestic Prince was about to compete in the
Belmont Stakes and his trainer was against it; and he was proved right.
Majestic Prince lost his undefeated status in the Belmont and was immediately retired.
Even the end-of-year honors went to Arts and Letters.

This year the cumulative training and stress on California Chrome was too much
for him to race so soon against top-notch fresher horses. But his quality is immense given
that fact that anyway he arrived fourth.

Seems like more time is needed between races, not because todays horses are inferior,
but because the Triple-Crown has entered into a new sophisticated, more super-competitive
way of doing things. An example comes handy: do you remember when the 1970's Oakland A's of MLB
introduced a pinch runner who was an Olympic-caliber speedster just to have an advantage when
running the bases? Well, I am referring to that kind of sophistication rivalry.

Seems like in order to win the Triple Crown today now you need:

(A) a super iron-horse specimen; or
(B) tons of good luck on your behalf combined with lots of "hard-luck-awards" for your Triple Crown
opponents.

I think that, most probably, our next Triple Crown winner will qualify under the aforementioned letter (B).

As for the question: Just how good is California Chrome? My answer would be he is good enough
to achieve Triple Crown winning status; but within certain limitations, because he is a fragile creature
and subject to the protection of the society.