Coburn’s reaction simply sour grapes

ELMONT, N.Y. — One of the first of many hard lessons you learn at the racetrack is that nobody gives you anything for free.

It’s a lesson that Steve Coburn apparently missed or ignored.

The coronation was in place Saturday at Belmont Park for California Chrome, Coburn’s talented 3-year-old colt who was looking to become thoroughbred racing’s first Triple Crown winner since 1978.

Instead, California Chrome had to deal with some fresh horses and simply was not up to the task, as one of those fresh horses — Tonalist — ruined the party by winning the 1½-mile Belmont Stakes at odds of 9-1. He was brave in winning a stretch duel with runner-up Commissioner by a head while extending the drought to 36 years.

Coburn, the 61-year-old from Topaz Lake who is California Chrome’s co-owner, had another word for Tonalist and his connections — and it wasn’t “brave.”

“This is a coward’s way out, in my opinion,” Coburn said after California Chrome finished in a dead heat for fourth as the prohibitive 4-5 favorite, almost two lengths behind Tonalist. “It’s not fair to these horses that have been going all over the country and running their guts out for all these people and for the people who believe in them.

“If you don’t make it to the Kentucky Derby, you can’t run in the other two races. It should be all or nothing. If you’ve got a horse, run him in all three races.”

Sorry, Mr. C., it doesn’t work that way.

Horses don’t run in races for a variety of reasons. They’re sick. They’re hurt. They’re not ready. They don’t have the earnings to qualify.

Yes, Tonalist was a “new shooter,” as they say at the track. But to blame his connections for California Chrome’s shortcomings is just plain sour grapes on Coburn’s part. Tonalist was sick and had to miss the Kentucky Derby. So his owner pointed him toward Saturday’s Belmont. His trainer, Christophe Clement, had him cranked up and ready to run.

If Coburn wants a level playing field, perhaps he should buy a basketball team. At the track, everyone is out to win, history be damned.

Here’s the reality — California Chrome is a very nice racehorse. But there were still questions about his ability to run a distance he had never attempted until Saturday. The same, of course, could be said for the other 10 horses in the Belmont. And prior to the latch being sprung from the starting gate, there was nothing to suggest California Chrome wasn’t ready.

He looked good in the paddock. He looked fine in the post parade amid the roars of a crowd of 102,199.

He broke well with the field and settled in nicely on the rail, unwilling to get involved in a pace duel. His jockey, Victor Espinoza, was doing everything right. He was patient. He saved ground. He avoided trouble and traffic. He was in perfect striking position as the field turned for home, fourth on the outside and ready to pounce.

But that great turn of foot that California Chrome had used to subdue his foes in the Kentucky Derby on May 3 and in the Preakness on May 17 wasn’t there Saturday. Espinoza asked for the acceleration from his colt, but when he stepped on the gas — nothing.

“I was waiting for the same kick like he always had before, and today he was a little bit flat down the lane,” Espinoza said. “He was just a little bit empty.”

The same way some of the 11 other horses since 1978 who tried and failed to win the Triple Crown were. It’s racing. It happens. It’s why they call the Belmont “The Test of Champions.” It’s why the Triple Crown proves to be so elusive. It’s also why racing should not change the format and cheapen the accomplishment. Greatness should be earned.

“We love California Chrome. We hoped he would win the Triple Crown,” said Bob Evans, Tonalist’s owner, who wasn’t about to get in a war of words with Coburn. “But we love our horse, too.

“I’ve been where Steve Coburn has been, and it’s not fun.”

Losing never is. But that’s the way it goes at the track. The racing gods aren’t always with you. The wings of the guardian angels aren’t always able to carry you all the way to the finish line first. Sometimes, it’s just not your day.

There’s another lesson that you learn in time at the track — that there’s always another race. Let’s hope we see California Chrome race again this summer, rested, re-energized and ready to excite the many fans he has endeared himself to over the past five weeks.

And let’s hope his owner gains a dose of humility along the way. On Saturday, Steve Coburn lived up to the name of his stable — a dumb ass.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.