California Chrome aims to make Triple Crown history
Just a mile and a half separates California Chrome from history.
On Friday, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner got in a final workout for Saturday's Belmont Stakes.
About 120,000 people are expected - nearly three times the size of last year's crowd.
A victory would make California Chrome the 12th Triple Crown winner - the first in 36 years.
California Chrome's owners, Steve and Carolyn Coburn, said they know the odds.
"We know that we were blessed and that it doesn't happen to very many people the way it happened to us," said Carolyn Coburn.
Their 3-year-old chestnut, bred in 2011 for just $10,000, is tearing up the track - winning six straight races with jockey Victor Espinoza.
"I've known right here in my heart, right here in my soul, that this horse was going to do something big, and I knew it the day I saw him," said Steve Coburn. "But I honestly believe this horse knows that he's running because all these people are coming to watch him."
It's that rags-to-riches story that has everyone captivated.
"It's a very cool story," said reporter Mike Watchmaker, who has been following California Chrome's rise to stardom for the Daily Racing Form. "It's the kind of story that 'Joe everybody' can identify with, and I think that's great."
Chrome's trainers, father and son team Art and Alan Sherman, said the horse has been taking them on the ride of a lifetime.
"It makes everybody dream that they can come up with a horse like California Chrome. You know, that's why we're in this business. You know, it took me 60 years to find one like him," said Art Sherman.
Alan Sherman said he was sure that California Chrome will pull out all the stops for Saturday's race.
"I'm really confident in this horse, period," he said. "As long as he gets a little racin' luck and he runs like he's been running, I think we're the horse to beat for sure."