BALTIMORE -- It gets even harder from here on out for Califo

[carrie201918]

BALTIMORE -- It gets even harder from here on out for California Chrome. He won easily in his home state of California, he dazzled in the Kentucky Derby and he dug deep to win the Preakness on Saturday. Now comes the toughest test of all, the Belmont Stakes in three weeks. The chestnut colt with four white feet will attempt to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont, something that hasnt been done since Affirmed in 1978. Since then, 12 horses have won the first two legs and failed to complete the sweep in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont; the last was Ill Have Another, who was scratched on the eve of the Belmont two years ago. "You have to have a very good horse to win these three races," said Art Sherman, the winning 77-year-old trainer. "Im hoping Ive got one right now." Maybe the horse with the modest pedigree and average Joe owners is the one. California Chrome defeated Ride On Curlin by 1 1/2 lengths in the Preakness, covering 1 3/16 miles in 1:54.84 on a sunny and cool day at Pimlico. Hes now won six straight races. The streak started with four in a row in California by a combined 24 1/4 lengths. Then California Chrome coasted home in the Derby by 1 3/4 lengths after opening up a big lead in the stretch. The margin dwindled in the Preakness as he fought off multiple challengers. California Chromes co-owner Steve Coburn shed tears after his colt crossed the finish line, dabbing them away with a blue-and-white bandanna. "I dont mean to be bold or cocky or arrogant," Coburn said. "I saw this baby when he was a day old, I told my wife, Carolyn, this horse is going to do something big. I dont know what it is, but were going to stay in the game to make sure this colt gets to be the best that he can be." Quite a statement from a guy with a one-horse stable. Coburn and partner Perry Martin bred an $8,000 mare to a $2,500 stallion to produce California Chrome. Based on the colts humble breeding, he probably shouldnt be on the verge of making history. His mother, named Love the Chase, won just one race. The owners were long shots to get this far, too. Coburn and Martin named their operation DAP Racing, which stands for Dumb Ass Partners. Their silks include an image of a donkey. Coburn and Perry who live on each side of the California-Nevada border get up early for their jobs -- Coburn working as a press operator and Martin running a lab that tests high-reliability equipment. "We just hope that this horse is letting America know that the little guy can win," Coburn said. Sent off as the overwhelming 1-2 favourite by a record crowd of 123,469, California Chrome bounced out of the gate running, with jockey Victor Espinoza moving the colt into the clear. Pablo Del Monte, a 34-1 shot, charged to the lead and was soon joined by filly Ria Antonia. Espinoza tucked California Chrome into third, an ideal spot behind the leaders. They stayed there until making their move approaching the final turn. "I had to move early today," Espinoza said. "I had to start moving at the half-mile pole, which is tough for a horse to start moving early and keep going all the way to the end. California Chrome proved he can move." California Chrome went for the lead, catching Pablo Del Monte while Social Inclusion joined the chase. Pablo Del Monte soon dropped back along the rail, and California Chrome sprinted away from Social Inclusion at the top of the stretch. But there was one more challenge to come. Ride On Curlin, next-to-last in the 10-horse field, ranged up and briefly appeared ready to overtake California Chrome. Once again showing his class, California Chrome denied the threat. "Its an awesome feeling," Espinoza said. "Today it was just a crazy race. I got more tired mentally than physically. I see another horse go to the front. I was going to sit second. ... I sit back, as soon as the other horse got clear of me, it worked out perfect." Social Inclusion was ridden by Luis Contreras, a jockey based at Torontos Woodbine Racetrack. California Chrome paid $3, $3 and $2.40. Ride On Curlin returned $5.60 and $3.80, while Social Inclusion was another 6 1/2 lengths back in third and paid $3.40 as the 5-1 second choice. General a Rod was fourth, followed by Ring Weekend, Pablo Del Monte, Dynamic Impact, Kid Cruz, Bayern and Ria Antonia. Dynamic Impact is trained by Mark Casse, who is also based at Woodbine. Espinoza will get another crack at trying to complete the Triple Crown, after missing with War Emblem in 2002. He finished eighth in the Belmont that year. "You have to be a super horse to win," the jockey said. "Hopefully, California Chrome comes back good, and hes the one that hopefully can do it." Bob Baffert trained War Emblem, one of his three Triple tries that ended in failure. He missed with Silver Charm in 1997 and again the following year with Real Quiet, who lost the Belmont by a nose. "California Chrome is something. Hes a cool customer," Baffert said after the race. "He does everything right. Hes fast enough to stay out of trouble." Minnesota Vikings Jerseys . - Andre Drummond had his best night on the boards. Cris Carter Jersey . The 18-time champions, who havent won the title since 1990, moved two points behind Arsenal after the leaders were stunned 6-3 at Manchester City on Saturday. Defending champion Manchester United trails Arsenal by 10 points after winning 3-0 at Aston Villa to avoid a third successive league loss. http://www.vikingssale.com/Vikings-Kirk-Cousins-Draft-Jersey/. - A lot of scenarios ran through Terrell Suggs head when the Baltimore linebacker prepared to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. Randy Moss Jersey . Power had a two-lap average of 218.896 mph in qualifying Friday at the high-banked, high-speed 1 1/2-mile track for his 34th career pole. Adam Thielen Jersey . The underachieving franchise finished 17th in the 19-team league with a 6-17-11 record this season. "Our soccer team is absolutely in complete disarray," said Leiweke, drawing laughs during an Empire Club luncheon speech about the future of MLSE teams and plans to improve them.PHOENIX -- Finally, the Arizona Diamondbacks won a series at home. Cody Ross hit his first home run of the year, Eric Chavez went deep for the second consecutive day and the Diamondbacks beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 on Sunday for their first series win at Chase Field all season. After setting a team record for runs Saturday night in an 18-5 rout, the Diamondbacks broke a 3-all tie with Chavezs two-run shot off Dan Haren (5-2) in the fifth inning. "We kind of went in there with a little momentum," manager Kirk Gibson said. "Last nights game was good for us. The thing about last nights game is, unless you play good (today), it doesnt really mean anything." Ross, batting .163 entering the game after coming back from major hip surgery, also doubled for Arizona, which has won two straight over the Dodgers after losing eight of the first nine meetings this season. "I felt something in BP the other day where I was, All right, I can start driving the ball," Ross said. Chris Owings singled three times and stole two bases for the Diamondbacks. The rookie is 9 for 11 against Haren. Hanley Ramirez and Adrian Gonzalez homered for the Dodgers, who have lost three of four. "Obviously, you dont want to keep losing series. If you lose series you are not going to go anywhere," Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly said. "I am really worried about day to day. Till we can grind out wins, we are in trouble." Josh Collmenter (2-2) went 5 1-3 innings to get the win. Addison Reed threw a scoreless ninth for his 12th save. Collmenter was lifted after 84 pitches, allowing two runs and four hits. "If you can beat division rivals at home, thats big," Collmenter said. "Especially the way weve been able to play halfway decent on the road, if we can match that at home I think we can get our record where we want it to be." Haren gave up five runs, a season-high four earned, and 10 hits in six innings. "The last three games have been a strugglle for me," he said.dddddddddddd. "Prior to that I was fine. I have to look and see what I was doing earlier in the year." Owings led off the fifth with a single. With two outs and a 3-2 count, Chavez -- who entered in the fourth after Martin Prado left with blurred vision in his left eye -- hit an opposite-field homer to left. That gave Chavez home runs in consecutive at-bats. He also had a pinch-hit shot Saturday. After first baseman Paul Goldschmidt dropped a relay throw for what would have been an inning-ending double play, the Dodgers loaded the bases with two outs against Brad Ziegler in the eighth. But second baseman Cliff Pennington caught Matt Kemps liner to end the inning. Ramirezs two-out homer in the first gave the Dodgers a 1-0 lead. Arizona tied it with an unearned run in the second. Ross doubled and scored when Ramirez threw wildly to first while trying to turn what would have been an inning-ending double play. In the third, Ramirez walked and Gonzalez homered to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead. The Diamondbacks cut it to 3-2 when Gerardo Parra led off the bottom half with a single, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Owings single. Ross first home run of the season tied it at 3 in the fourth. Even with the victory, the Diamondbacks are 6-16 at Chase Field this season. NOTES: Randy Johnson threw out the ceremonial first pitch to commemorate his perfect game 10 years ago. ... Dodgers OF Yasiel Puig went 0 for 3 and was hit by a pitch, ending his 16-game hitting streak. ... Diamondbacks 2B Aaron Hill sat out his second straight game with a sore right shoulder. ... Both teams have Monday off. The Dodgers open a series Tuesday night against the Mets in New York, with Josh Beckett (1-1, 2.38 ERA) pitching for Los Angeles. Rafael Montero (0-1) makes his second major league start for the Mets. Arizona visits St. Louis on Tuesday. Bronson Arroyo (4-2, 4.15 ERA) starts for the Diamondbacks against Adam Wainwright (6-2, 2.11). Wholesale Bruins Jerseys Cheap Sabres Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Red Wings Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Stitched Panthers Jerseys Cheap Canadiens Jerseys Online Wholesale Senators Jerseys Lightning Jerseys China Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Authentic Cheap Hurricanes Jerseys Cheap Stitched Blue Jackets Jerseys Cheap Devils Jerseys Authentic Cheap Islanders Jerseys Authentic Rangers Jerseys China Cheap Flyers Jerseys Wholesale Penguins Jerseys Cheap Stitched Capitals Jerseys Wholesale Blackhawks Jerseys Avalanche Jerseys China Cheap Stars Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Wild Jerseys Predators Jerseys China Cheap Stitched Blues Jerseys Wholesale Jets Jerseys Cheap Stitched Ducks Jerseys Cheap Coyotes Jerseys Online Flames Jerseys China Wholesale Golden Knights Jerseys Oilers Jerseys China Cheap Kings Jerseys Authentic Cheap Stitched Sharks Jerseys Canucks Jerseys China ' ' '