California Chrome: Triple Crown Favorite Will Race After Belmont Stakes, Worth Doubles If He Wins
California Chrome runs in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday and all eyes are on the Triple Crown favorite this week in Elmont, New York. Reuters is reporting that even if the Derby and Preakness winner doesn’t win the Belmont, the colt will continue racing. Trainer, Art Sherman, says the equine star will have a much deserved break after the Belmont Stakes.
Sherman plans to enter the large chestnut in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup on November 1 at Santa Anita Park. He wants to run him there as a 4-year-old. Sherman is confident this horse is going the distance. So, don’t count California Chrome out of chasing the Triple Crown title next year if he doesn’t win the Belmont Stakes this time!
Owners Steve Coburn and Perry Martin just insured the horse for “a lot of money” and turned down a $6 million offer to sell the 3-year-old. California Chrome was bred for only $10,500. His worth will go up substantially if he becomes the 36th Triple Crown winner. Affirmed was the last race horse to win in 1978.
Coburn has no plans to retire California Chrome; he’ll be back on the race track once he’s had a long break. Coburn told Reuters:
“We’ll take him back home and give him some time of. We haven’t decided yet what we’re going to do with him, but he’s gonna need some down time.
“Then we’ll let him tell us when he’s ready to go again. He’s got our cell number so all he’s got to do is call.”
No amount has been given as to how much California Chrome will be worth if he’s the next Triple Crown winner, but American studmasters estimate his worth will go from the current $10 million to $15 million up to double that. A true dream for any racehorse owner.
At this point in the young stallion’s career, he’s earned $3.2 million in prize money. He’s making his owners more money with endorsements coming their way.
Inquistr has kept up with this Triple Crown hopeful. His win at the Preakness Stakes launched excitement in race fans they haven’t felt in a long time.
In more news surrounding the horse, FOX News reports that California Chrome drew the No. 2 post at Belmont and is the 3-5 favorite to win.
The 2014 Belmont Stakes airs on NBC Saturday, June 7 from the Belmont Race Track in Elmont, New York. Pre-race coverage is at 4:30 pm and post time will be somewhere between 5:50 pm and 6:40 pm.
[Image via IBTimes]
