Sports News – California Chrome’s bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978 lives on after he won the 139th Preakness Stakes on Saturday, holding off Ride on Curlin down the stretch to add the second jewel of the Triple Crown to his Kentucky Derby title.
California Chrome entered the race as a 3-5 morning line favorite in a field that featured just two other returning starters from the Kentucky Derby — General a Rod and Ride on Curlin. The field was also historic as just the third in Preakness history to include a female horse, jockey and trainer — the filly Ria Antonia, Rosie Napravnik aboard Bayern and Linda Rice, who saddled Kid Cruz, respectively.
California Chrome’s rags-to-riches has captured America’s attention, a horse bred for $10,000 beating million-dollar horses in the world’s premier races. Equally engaging have been his working man owners, Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, known as the “Dumb-Ass Partners,” and his 77-year-old trainer Art Sherman, who arrived at his sport’s pinnacle for the first time at the Kentucky Derby.
The final leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, will take place on Saturday, June 7, and will be show live on NBC.
From NBCSports.Com
