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2014 Belmont Stakes Results: California Chrome falters; Triple Crown drought goes on

California Chrome's attempt at the Triple Crown comes up short.

Al Bello

The dream for a Triple Crown winner will have to wait at least one more year. Despite 36 years of anticipation, California Chrome was unable to add his name to the list of horses to win the Triple Crown of racing, instead he becomes the 13th horse to win the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness and fail to capture the Belmont Stakes.  Tonalist, sent to the gate at odds of 9/1, won the 2014 Belmont Stakes to deny California Chrome the Triple Crown.

Affirmed is still the last horse to sweep the three-race series after he beat his rival Alydar during the 1978 Triple Crown season.

California  Chrome appeared to break well but never found a good position in the early stages, racing behind the early speed, and then found some running to the outside of the leading trio as the field hit the far turn. But when it came time to run to the wire, the horse that pulled away at the top of the stretch in his six races before the Belmont, had little left in the tank to run to the front. Fading in the stretch, California Chrome finished in a dead-heat with Wicked Strong for fourth.

As expected, California Chrome took tons of actions from the betting public, going to the post as the heavy, odds-on 4/5 favorite, his odds drifting up slightly from his morning line of 3/5. Despite the backing of the majority of the gamblers and casual fans, Triple Crown glory wasn't meant to be.

UPDATE: California Chrome didn't break as cleanly as it looked:

While that's not the way you want to start a mile and a half race, Chrome just wasn't good enough to win this race on this day, grabbed quarter or not. Chrome's had some gate issues in the past and they popped up again today. A horse needs to be perfect in three races to win the Triple Crown; there is no room for an "off day."

More on the Belmont later.

Horse Win Place Show
11-Tonalist $20.40 $9.60 $7.00
8-Commissioner $23.20 $13.20
1-Medal Count $13.20

Base Bet Combo Payout Pays to -
$1.00 Exacta 11/8 $174.00
$0.50 Trifecta 11/8/1 $1,695.25
$0.10 Superfecta 11/8/1/9 $573.35
$0.10 Superfecta 11/8/1/2 $380.80
$1.00 Double 8/11 $58.00
$1.00 Pick 3 5/1,6/8/11 $144.25 3-of-3
$0.50 Pick 4 5/1,6/8/11 $425.25 4-of-4
$2.00 Pick 6 5/1/5/1,6/8/11 $90,671.00 6-of-6

Distance Fractions Internal
1/4: 23.34 23.34
1/2: 48.86 25.52
3/4: 1:13.09 24.23
Mile: 1:37.33 24.24
1 1/4: 2:02.77 25.44
Finish: 2:28.86 26.09

Year Horse Belmont Finish
2014 California Chrome
4th
2012 I'll Have Another Scratched
2008 Big Brown 9th
2004 Smarty Jones 2nd
2003 Funny Cide 3rd
2002 War Emblem 8th
1999 Charismatic 3rd
1998 Real Quiet 2nd
1997 Silver Charm 2nd
1989 Sunday Silence 2nd
1987 Alysheba 4th
1981 Pleasant Colony 3rd
1979 Spectacular Bid 3rd