The Preakness 2014 results are in, and California Chrome has done it again.
Going into the race, California Chrome was heavily favored to win the second leg of the Triple Crown. After a resounding win in the Kentucky Derby, the colt came in at 3-5 odds in the Preakness — and delivered with a victory of several lengths.
The Preakness results put California Chrome within striking distance of the Triple Crown, with the Belmont Stakes coming in a few weeks.
After California Chrome came Ride on Curlin in second, Social Inclusion in third, and General A Rod fourth.
The days leading up to the Preakness actually brought a bit of uncertainty for the frontrunner. Late in the week the horse came down with a cough, which was the result of a blister in his throat.
There was some concern that if the condition worsened, California Chrome would have to be scratched from the Preakness, a devastating result for trainers.
“California Chrome is fine. His throat is fine. He had a little tickle,” Alan Sherman, an assistant trainer said.
“He is not scratching from the Preakness,” he said. The colt had a similar blister before his Derby win, and is being treated with a glycerin throat wash.
It has been 36 years since the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed.
California Chrome’s trainers admitted that the thought crossed their mind, but they remained focused on Preakness results first.
“The Triple Crown means so much, but I’m old school,” Art Sherman said. “Let’s just go one race at a time.”
California Chrome’s team got off to a good start even hours before the Preakness 2014 results were in. Jockey Victor Espinoza got a warmup by riding Majestic Hussar to a win in the LifeBridge Health Good Neighbors Race, finishing with a time of 58:46.
“Well, it’s a good start at least,” Espinoza said. “It’s always good to win before the big race.”
The full Preakness 2014 results can be found here , with an update expected within a few minutes.
