Preakness win puts a California Chrome Triple Crown in sight

Since 1978, 11 horses have won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, but failed to win Belmont.

Bill Frakes/SI

California Chrome is sure to head to the starting gate on June 7 accompanied by a legion of vociferous doubters. I will not be among them. The naysayers have history on their side. No horse since Affirmed in 1978 has won the Triple Crown. And there are certainly many things that can go wrong in the long stretches and around the sweeping turns of Belmont Park. But right now, at this moment, there is no better 3-year-old in America than California Chrome. The next three weeks are going to be fun.