California Chrome Lands Skechers Deal: Triple Crown Contender A Shoe-In At Belmont Stakes?

California Chrome has landed an endorsement deal of sorts… with Skechers. The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner has gained sponsorship from Skechers, a company that makes shoes for humans. According to The Wire, the Skechers logo will be on the horse’s blanket and on the handlers’ attire at the Belmont Stakes. If the famed horse wins this race, he will win the Triple Crown. It will be the first time that a horse has won the coveted title since 1978 (the horse that won that year was named Affirmed).

Chief executive for Skechers Robert Greenberg said:

“We’re a marketing company that just happens to be in the footwear business. We’re spending a couple bucks to the roll the dice and if this horse wins it all, we’ll be part of it.”

California Chrome obviously can’t wear Skechers (unless the company decided to get into the horseshoe business), but you will see the company’s logo in various places while the cameras are rolling at Saturday’s event. Interestingly enough, Skechers has had a bit of luck when it comes to sponsoring winners. This year, Skechers sponsored Meb Keflezighi at the Boston Marathon. Keflezighi won the marathon and became the first American to do so in over 30 years. Keflezighi was wearing Skechers sneakers in the race.

If that’s not enough to convince you that this horse could pull off a huge win this weekend, USA Today has highlighted some other key reasons why he might go all the way.

For starters, California Chrome has his name on his side. Twenty horses who have won the Belmont have had names that started with the letter “C” according to the report. Another plus is that the horse’s team — from his owners to his jockey — are well-known and well respected in the business. Owners Steven Coburn and Perry Martin made a name for themselves when they bred an $8,000 mare. People called them crazy… and look where they are now.

Luck also has a lot to do with it. There are many things that prove that this horse is lucky and many believe that he’s going to go all the way. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the horse will be allowed to wear a nasal strip in Saturday’s race — this is something that was previously banned. USA Today also points out that this horse has had luck in his two previous races. He has made “every break out of the gate and has had no traffic troubles.” Can he do it one more time?

Needless to say, the people over at Skechers will be rooting for California Chrome to win the Belmont this weekend — will you?

[Photo courtesy of Reuters/Mike Sega via The Wire]