California Chrome owners begin filing process for trademark on athletic apparel

California Chrome will be the 13th horse to compete for the Triple Crown since 1978. (Molly Riley/Getty Images)

The owners of California Chrome have begun the filing process to trademark the horse's name on all athletic apparel, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website.

The people who control the horse's ownership entity, Dumb Ass Partners, began the application process on May 15, two days before the horse won the Preakness Stakes. Once approved, the trademark will apply to "shirts, pants, jackets, footwear, hats and caps."

The only roadblock to obtaining that trademark could be a Kentucky-based company that has held the trademark on the California Chrome name for car parts since October 2008.

The horse, which was bred for $10,500, has won nearly $3.5 million from racing, according to report on Tuesday from Darren Rovell of ESPN. The New York Racing Association approved the use of the horse's nasal strip while competing after a bit of controversy. The horse will now look to complete the Triple Crown on June 7 at the Belmont Stakes.

LAYDEN: California Chrome can wear nasal strip at Belmont, but sport suffers