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Kathy Wray Coleman is a community activist and 20 year investigative journalist who trained for 17 years at the Call and Post Newspaper. (www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com)
ELMONT, New York-In spite of being the 4-5 favorite, California Chrome and Jockey Victor Espinoza placed fifth and lost the triple crown following a loss to Tonalist and Jockey Joel Rosario at the Belmont Stakes in New York on Saturday, June 7, even after winning the Kentucky Derby on May 7 and the Preakness on May 17.
Commissioner came in second, almost winning until the last few strides of the race, Medal Count finished third, and Wicked Strong placed fourth.
A $2 bet on Tonalist brought $20.40. He covered the 1 1/2-mile track, the longest of the three legs, in 2:28:52.
The co-owner of California Chrome was livid and cried foul, saying his horse ran all three legs while others horses that ran at Belmont stayed out of the Derby and the Preakness.
" All of the horses that run in Belmont should also be required to run in the Derby and the Preakness, it's unfair,"said Steve Coburn, co-owner of California Chrome, a three-year-old colt.
Medal Count ran in the Derby but not the Preakness and Tonalist and Commissioner did not run in either.
Affirmed remains the last triple crown winner for the last 36 years and since 1978.
The Kentucky Derby, held annually at Churchill Downs in Louisville, is always the first Saturday in May, with the Preakness in Baltimore, Maryland held two weeks later, and Belmont Stakes three weeks after that, but never before June 5 or after June 11 for the Belmont Stakes. Winning all three legs will bring a triple crown.
The purse for winning at Belmont was $1.5 million, while the Derby and the Preakness brought purses this year of $2 million and $1.5 million, respectively.(www.clevelandurbannews.com) / (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com)
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