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Tom Law 
Outside Barn 26 well before the opening race on the Belmont Stakes Day card the mood was eerily calm and quiet. California Chrome was housed in the middle of the barn that houses Jimmy Toner’s string, awaiting the anticipated race that could make the 3-year-old colt the next great legend of racing.
California Chrome represented the latest contender to attempt sweep the Triple Crown in the series’ final requirement in last weekend’s Belmont Stakes.
The 2014 Triple Crown came to an end Saturday as California Chrome failed in his bid to sweep the series in the Belmont Stakes. The popular Cal-bred colt came up 1 3/4 lengths short, finishing in a dead-heat for fourth with Wicked Strong behind Tonalist, Commissioner and Medal Count.
The ticket line at Penn station was overwhelming to say the least. We thought we left ourselves enough time to beat the crowds, but the station was staggered with racing fans ready to watch California Chrome bring it home.
A shade more than three hours before California Chrome flamed out in his quest for the Triple Crown and his owner got to talking, and talking and talking, a poignant moment of sincere sportsmanship unfolded at Belmont Park far away from the cameras and the glare of the spotlight.
The day is here and the time is now to see if California Chrome can pull off what’s been impossible since 1978.
The 2014 Triple Crown is about to reach a dramatic conclusion and the biggest question of the year is about to be answered.
Triple Crown hopeful California Chrome and his connections went into lockdown mode Friday morning, a little more than 36 hours before they face the biggest test of their lives in the 146th edition of the Belmont Stakes.
The day before the Belmont Stakes isn’t quite the Kentucky Oaks or even the Black-Eyed Susan, but it’s still a strong card that features a pair of strong and interesting stakes with big fields.
