I think it is important to take a step back and look at the 3 year old year this horse is putting together. Did we hold it against Rachel Alexandra that she finished 6th in her 2yo debut, or 2nd in the Pocahontas or Debutante? No, we looked at her 3yo campaign as one of the greatest years in racing history. Since Chrome has become a 3yo, he has won all five of his races in visually impressive style, without ever being asked for his best AND is 6 for 7 on conventional dirt! So his Derby was slow (in some's opinion), his Preakness was as fast as Curlin's and Big Brown's.
CC should serve as a testament to the fact that we are continually being cheated by short, spread out racing careers where some horses are unable to ever achieve their full potential. The Belmont will be CC's 13th career start (Big Brown had 5 going into Belmont, Smarty Jones had 8, Funny Cide had 8, War Emblem had 9). This foundation is what separates him from the previous horses that have attempted this feat.
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