Garry Jones / AP
California Chrome, with exercise rider Willie Delgado in the saddle, gallops in the rain at Belmont Park race track in Elmont, NY., Thursday, June 5, 2014.
Friday, June 6, 2014 | 12:53 p.m.
NEW YORK — California Chrome has finished his final run-through before he goes for history and the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes.
The chestnut colt galloped two miles around the Belmont Park oval on Friday after visiting the paddock where he will be saddled on race day. He stood quietly in stall No. 2 before walking through the tunnel toward the track, pausing several times for photographers. His ears pricked at the sound of clicking cameras.
The Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner will jog again early Saturday, about 13 hours before he tries to end a 36-year Triple Crown drought with a victory in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont.
Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, whose horses spoiled two previous Triple Crown bids, says the last quarter-mile of the Belmont will be the toughest for California Chrome since he's never run that far.
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