Posted on 06/06/2014 8:33:46 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
ELMONT, N.Y. -- If you listen to horsemen during the Triple Crown chase year after year, they talk as if a special racehorse becomes a champion not only because of how fast he runs, but also because of who he is.
So what makes California Chrome a special racehorse and a champion, instead of just a horse with a great backstory? Co-owner Steve Coburn, the Wilford Brimley lookalike in the 10-gallon hat, fingers the trait that all of Chrome's handlers cite: "It's been amazing to watch his personality develop and watch his mind develop."
His mind? Really?
Angel Cordero Jr., the Hall of Fame jockey who won six Triple Crown races before becoming a rider's agent, nods and says Chrome's handlers are onto something: In a great racehorse, a beautiful mind can be a wonderful thing.
Cordero, standing trackside in a pelting rain at Belmont on Thursday morning -- not long after Chrome did a bit of schooling in the track's starting gate -- explains: "He's definitely a [physical] freak. You could see that way back when he showed up at the [Kentucky] Derby. But you can also see that he's a smart horse, too. And I definitely believe it helps a racehorse -- especially here -- to have a great mind. Because things tend to happen at the Belmont that don't happen at other places. Sometimes, there's confusion, because at the three-quarters pole here, there's still three-quarters of a mile to go, not a half-mile. Some of them have no idea where the wire is.
"But some horses -- some horses just know things," Cordero adds with a twinkle in his eye. "Some know when to go. Some go when you ask. And some" -- here Cordero laughs -- "they don't want to race much at all."
(Excerpt) Read more at espn.go.com ...
Not bad for DAP (dumb ass partners).
I like California Chrome but he doesn’t strike me as overwhelming like Secretariat did.
If Secretariat was in the 2014 Kentucky Derby, he would have won by 22 lengths (IIRC) based on his record time.
A shame for Sham that he was born in the wrong year. :-)
California Chrome can win the Triple Crown but can’t be compared to the great Secretariat, who set records in all three races, two which are still stand in standing.
Reminds me of a wrangler at a dude ranch telling guests that they had horses suitable for everyone ... for those who like to ride we have horses that like to be ridden. For those of you who don’t like to ride we have horses that don’t like to be ridden.
I believe all his Triple Crown records are still standing.
LOL!
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