| Saturday, May 17, 2014 Contact: NYRA Press Office (718) 659-2351 Large field expected to face Triple Crown hopeful California Chrome in Belmont Stakes ELMONT, N.Y. - A large, competitive contingent of challengers is expected to face California Chrome when he attempts to become thoroughbred racing's 12th Triple Crown winner in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 7 at Belmont Park. Commanding Curve, second in the Kentucky Derby, and Ride On Curlin, runner-up in the Preakness, are slated to take on California Chrome again in the Belmont Stakes. Also exiting the Derby and aiming for a start in the Belmont are Danza (third), Wicked Strong (fourth), Samraat (fifth), and Intense Holiday (12th). Social Inclusion, third in the Preakness, is expected to join the Belmont Stakes field, as is Kid Cruz, eighth in the second leg of the Triple Crown. The provisional Belmont Stakes field also includes Tonalist and Commissioner, the respective top two finishers in Belmont Park's Grade 2 Peter Pan. "We want to congratulate the connections of California Chrome, who has distinguished himself as an elite 3-year-old," said Martin Panza, NYRA's Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. "Every one of us at The New York Racing Association looks forward to watching him attempt to make history on June 7. With $8 million in purses and 10 stakes on the card, Belmont Stakes Day already was going to be a fantastic day of racing, and California Chrome's Triple Crown bid will make the event even bigger." Contenders for the 2014 Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes as of May 17 | Horse | Owner | Trainer | | CALIFORNIA CHROME | Steven Coburn & Perry Martin | Art Sherman | | COMMANDING CURVE | West Point Thoroughbreds | Dallas Stewart | | COMMISSIONER | WinStar Farm | Todd Pletcher | | DANZA | Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners | Todd Pletcher | | INTENSE HOLIDAY | Starlight Racing | Todd Pletcher | | KID CRUZ | Vina Del Mar Tb's & Black Swan Stb. | Linda Rice | | RIDE ON CURLIN | Daniel J. Dougherty | William Gowan | | SAMRAAT | My Meadowview Farm | Richard Violette, Jr. | | SOCIAL INCLUSION | Rontos Racing Stable | Manuel Azpurua | | TONALIST | Robert S. Evans | Christophe Clement | | WICKED STRONG | Centennial Farm | James Jerkens |
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