Will it be California Chrome

Can California Chrome repeat in the Preakness? That’s the question that all racing fans are asking tonight. Tomorrow marks the 139th running of the Preakness Stakes, and as with every single Preakness, another big question emerges: will there be a Triple Crown winner this year? If any horse can do it in 2014, California Chrome would have been the best choice.

There has been some concern about California Chrome, though. He is not the horse with the fastest speed figures in this race. That honor belongs to Social Inclusion, with a 110. However, over his short career, Chrome has proven to be the most versatile of the horses here, and this race is still long enough that speed is not going to be the most dominant trait of the winner. Chrome is very good at sitting off the pace and striking when the time is right.

Reports yesterday also indicated that he is being treated for a throat blister. The same malady was reportedly treated before the Kentucky Derby, too, and had no impact upon the race. There is little cause for concern because of this.

The final reason for concern over a Preakness win is the fact that Chrome is now a marked horse. Every single jockey in the field knows what he is capable of and will be targeting him. This is going to be his biggest disadvantage, but based upon past results, he is the most talented horse in the field, and even with others gunning for him, a good trip will likely result in a victory.

The biggest concern over California Chrome is how he will react to distance. The Kentucky Derby was longer than the Preakness will be, so this race doesn’t look like a cause for trouble for him.