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BIG SANDY… This Saturday past, the bid for a Triple Crown by Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner California Chrome came up short, disappointing many who were there and millions of TV viewers worldwide. The race set gate records at Saratoga Park, home of the Belmont stakes, and the anticipation for the race was at a fever pitch prior to post time. The race started out rough for The Chrome after he bumped another horse coming out of the starting gate. He had a bandaged front hoof upon departure for the West Coast. That didn’t appear to be his undoing, though.
When it came time for him to break on the home stretch, he just didn’t have enough juice to overcome the three horses in front of him: the winner Tonalist, Commissioner (second place) and Medal Count (third). The Chrome had to battle it out for fourth with Wicked Strong. The disappointment in the huge crowd was palpable. With only 11 winners in its history, many factors can come into play as to how a really good horse might win it. I actually look at the Triple as a process that requires one of two types of animals to win it. The Derby and Preakness are basically speed races and require a speed horse to win them. The Belmont, with the longest track of the three, requires a big, strong horse with a lot of stamina to hold up for its distance.   
It is a bit of a rarity for a horse to possess all the traits needed to win a Triple, and that is exactly why you have only seen 11 winners in a little under 140 years. Then you have the challenge that some of the horses don’t run all three races. Some might run the Derby but take the Preakness off and return for the Belmont if they don’t place at the Derby. This can be an advantage for a close but lesser animal. Then you have the races themselves, with the chance for blocking, crowding, and other tricks, and it is a challenge to come out on top. Unless the stewards see some actual racing “fouls” occur, you could be in for a tough finish.
One of The Chrome’s owners said as much post-race in an interview that came off as mostly sour grapes, though he made some valid points. Steve Coburn pointed out that the winner and runner-up both bypassed the Derby and Preakness. Is that an advantage? Well sure it is. The Chrome was running his third major race in five weeks, and that is very tough. Perhaps it is time for the racing world to take a new look at the Triple and the way it is conducted. If not, it will probably be a long, long time before we see another Triple Crown victor, if ever. Big Chrome, you are a champ in my book. You are absolutely beautiful…
THE LOS ANGELES KINGS, courtesy of two wins at home in the Staples Center, are heading to New York for Games 3 and 4 in the Stanley Cup final and a chance to hoist it before leaving town. Both victories came via overtime, with Game 2 requiring two OT periods before a decision. The NY Rangers had two-goal leads in both games and could not hold on when the Kings turned it up. The Rangers may have also been the victim of a missed goalie interference call when referee Dan O’Halloran did not disallow a goal scored by the Kings’ Dwight King.
With the score at 4-2 early in the third, King established position between NY net minder Henrik Lundqvist and D-man Ryan McDonagh. However, he was also in the top area of the crease. While there, and before the shot from the point was taken, he appeared to strike Lundqvist in the chest with his stick. Certainly McDonagh was jostling him for position, but didn’t appear to be pressing him hard into Lundqvist. But when Matt Greene launched his shot from the point area, King by then appeared to be in moderate contact with Henrik. At the least, he was distracting Lundqvist from his right to make the save, if not downright physically impeding him. I didn’t think the tally should have counted, and if it had been disallowed as I thought, there is no telling how the contest may have ended. The Kings may have still prevailed, but we will never know.
But not all is lost. With a couple of strong games by the Rangers at home, they could turn it into a two out of three series. If you are NY coach Alain Vignault, you have got to tell your club that you were on the road and took a pretty good team to the limit twice, playing three OT periods before a winner could be decided. You have got to find the positives for the team and drive them home. The Rangers have proven they can play with the Kings. Now they have to prove they can stay with them….
IS IT ME, OR ARE THE Pittsburgh Pens on the verge of a few downward seasons? The club dismissed GM Ray Shero a month back but handled it in a less than professional manner. There was word that they were going to fire head coach Dan Bylsma the same morning but then changed their minds and didn’t. Rumors floated that they didn’t like the chance of both guys going to the Washington Capitals, who had both positions vacant, but then they got their guys.
Meanwhile, the Carolina Hurricanes bumped GM Jim Rutherford up to a president’s position to make room for Hall-of-Famer Ron Francis to become the new GM, presumably so another club wouldn’t snatch him up. And then after three weeks of buffing the dolphin, and perhaps simultaneously, Rutherford somehow had a return-to-hockey Jesus moment and decided he still wanted to do some GM-ing, while the Pens decided they weren’t sure about handing the controls over to TV analyst Pierre McGuire. One call led to another, and then a visit, and low and behold, suddenly the former Pens net minder was at a presser being announced as the new GM. And by the way, they finally got around to giving Disco Dan his pink slip.
For cry-yi-yi! Jimmy Rutherford? When was the last time the Canes were relevant? They have been the Monsters of Mediocre for at least five years since their post-Cup days. The Pengwah, right here, right now, are on the verge of wasting the best years—the “window,” if you will, of two of the best talents in the history of the show! What the?? PEACE

Marc Elliott is a sports opinion writer who splits his time between Minnesota and his hometown in Illinois…