California Chrome out; Will return for full 5yo season

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by Danzig

of course it wasn't going to europe that caused this. anything and everything done since the guy went off immediately after the belmont has only drawn negative comments. obviously he spoke in the heat of the moment, full of emotion, and angry and depressed. what he said that day has been said a million times over by a million fans. discussions have been on here about 'new shooters'.
other horses ship, no comments. other horses try england--look at animal kingdom, and no negative comments. yeah, some questioned if AK had a chance, but it was nothing like this.
the horse didn't get a hoof bruise or a cannon bruise because of who owned him, or because or where he was stabled. we see this every day, regardless of how nice the owner is, or how savvy the trainer.
they took a risk, it didn't pan out. just like going for two can make you a hero if the team scores, and a zero if they don't.
i neither like nor dislike the owners. they took a chance, it didn't work out.
wesley ward takes those chances, look what one of his just accomplished.

That was Steve Coburn who shot his mouth off. Perry Martin eventually pulled rank and started making the decisions about things like Ascot against Coburn's and Sherman's wishes. It wasn't really that "they" took the risk. Perry did. I don't think taking a horse like Chrome to Ascot is insane, but it's not some team effort to come to the best decision in Chrome's case. Each owner has gotten criticism for different reasons. Coburn's was deserved I felt. I can see both sides of the argument with Perry's.