The New York Racing Association has cleared the nasal strip for California Chrome, according to Jeannine Edwards via Twitter.
California Chrome nasal strip cleared by NYRA
The Triple Crown hopeful is ready to go in the Belmont Stakes.
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
With the allowance of the nasal strip, California Chrome keeps his hopes for the Triple Crown alive at the Belmont Stakes on June 7. The last horse to win the Triple Crown was Affirmed all the way back in 1978. Since he began wearing the nasal strip in races, California Chrome is 6-0.
Art Sherman, the trainer of California Chrome, was confident that the horse would be able to use the nasal strip, which opens up the nasal passages to assist breathing, per USA Today Sports.
Belmont Stakes
“We put in an official request (Sunday to New York officials) to get the nasal strip, and it looks like we’re going to be able to use it,” Sherman said outside California Chrome’ barn at Pimlico Race Course.
Had the association turned down the request to wear the strip, Sherman stated he might have held the horse out and forgone a chance to make history. The Belmont Stakes is the longest of the three triple-crown races, with a distance of a mile and a half. From the last turn to the finish line is just shy of 1,100 feet.
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