The 2014 Belmont Stakes
California Chrome, center, is flanked by Wicked Strong, left, and Tonalist, right, as they head down the backstretch of the Belmont Stakes. Tonalist went on to win, denying California Chrome the Triple Crown. (Jason DeCrow / AP)
Tonalist, left, with jockey Joel Rosario aboard, crosses the finish line to win the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. (JASON SZENES / EPA)
Jockey Joel Rosario, atop Tonalist, exults after winning the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes. (Matt Slocum / AP)
Crowds cheer as California Chrome goes for the Triple Crown. It was more like triple frown as he finished tied for fourth. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
A disappointed crowd watches the replay of the Belmont Stakes in which California Chrome failed to win the Triple Crown. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Pre-race favorite California Chrome heads back to the barn after finishing tied for fourth in the Belmont Stakes. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Friends and family of Eddie Espinoza watch the Belmont Stakes on a video screen at Santa Anita Park. Espinoza, a 72-year old horse player from Whittier, was to win $1 million if California Chrome won the Belmont Stakes, which he did not. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
California Chrome, with Victor Espinoza aboard, finishes tied for fourth in the Belmont Stakes. (Matt Slocum / AP)
Eddie Espinoza is hugged by his nephew, Alex Apodaca, after they watched the Belmont Stakes at Santa Anita Park. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
The field bursts from the gate in the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
Tonalist and jockey Joel Rosario enter the track before the Belmont Stakes. Tonalist won the race, denying favorite California Chrome the triple crown. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
The owner of Tonalist, Robert S. Evans, left, is presented with the trophy from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo after winning the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. (Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images)
Tonalist, second from left, crosses the finish line along with Commissioner and Medal Count, in orange behind. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Tonalist wins the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
The start of the 146th Belmont Stakes, in which California Chrome, second from right, was favored to win but didn’t. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
California Chrome, the favorite in the race, breaks out of the starting gate with jockey Victor Espinoza on board. (JASON SZENES / EPA)
Tonalist, center, gallops to the finish line. California Chrome, left, failed in his bid to win the Triple Crown. (JASON SZENES / EPA)
Tonalist, right, heads toward his victory in the Belmont Stakes. California Chrome finished in a tie for fourth. (JASON SZENES / EPA)
California Chrome, third from left, is flanked by Wicked Strong and Tonalist as they thunder down the backstretch. (Jason DeCrow / AP)
Tonalist, ridden by Joel Rosario, races to the finish line to win the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes. (Travis Lindquist / Getty Images)
Sabrina Breighner, left, and Shanna Gross, right, both of Cumberland, Md., enjoy time at Belmont Park before the race. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Laura Anderson, left, and Vince Mari, both of Philadelphia, wait for the race to begin. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Steve Coburn, co-owner of California Chrome, waves to fans at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., before Saturday’s start of the Belmont Stakes. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
California Chrome co-owner Steve Coburn, on stairs, high-fives a fan at New York’s Belmont Park before Saturday’s start of the Belmont Stakes. (Streeter Lecka / Getty Images)
Edwin Collazo of Brooklyn wears a hat paying tribute to California Chrome before the Belmont Stakes begins Saturday at New York’s Belmont Park. (Jason DeCrow / Associated Press)
A horse-racing fan wears a homemade crown, in recognition of Triple Crown contender California Chrome, before Saturday’s start of the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. (Jason DeCrow / Associated Press)
California Chrome, with assistant trainer Alan Sherman and exercise rider William Delgado, goes for an exercise session Friday at New York’s Belmont Park. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Exercise rider Willie Delgado pauses with California Chrome as they head out to the track Friday for a workout at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. (Peter Morgan / Associated Press)
California Chrome looks at photographers gathered Friday at the horse’s barn at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. (Julie Jacobson / Associated Press)
Assistant trainer Alan Sherman leads California Chrome, with exercise rider Willie Delgado, back to the barn after a Friday morning workout at New York’s Belmont Park. (Rob Carr / Getty Images)
California Chrome goes for an exercise session at Belmont Park on Friday, led by assistant trainer Alan Sherman with exercise rider William Delgado. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
California Chrome returns to the barn after an exercise session Friday with exercise rider William Delgado. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Debbie Sue Winick, racing manager for Harris Farms’ Horse Division, watches the farm’s thoroughbred mares in Coalinga. California Chrome was born here in 2011. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
The drought has heightened political tensions in the Central Valley. But a Triple Crown-hopeful transcends even water wars. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Bred and trained in the Central Valley, California Chrome, ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, wins the 139th Preakness Stakes. (Matt Slocum / Associated Press)
“Society might not agree on anything,” Harris Farms’ owner John Harris says. “But everybody agrees they want to watch this horse of humble beginnings run.” (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
One of California Chrome’s owners, Steve Coburn, celebrates in the winner’s circle after the 139th running of the Preakness Stakes. (Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)
The sixth-graders at Centerville Elementary express their support for California Chrome with 150 red Solo cups in a chain-link fence. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
California Chrome enters the track at Belmont Park for a training session with exercise rider William Delgado. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
California Chrome trainer Art Sherman stands in the barn before his horse goes for an exercise session around the track. If Chrome wins the Belmont Stakes, he would become the first California-bred Triple Crown winner. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Victor Espinoza rides California Chrome to a victory during the 140th Kentucky Derby. A video of the Harris Farms crew watching the race went viral on YouTube in May. (Charlie Riedel / Associated Press)
California Chrome, No. 3, leads the field racing in the 139th Preakness Stakes. (Rob Carr / Getty Images)