Rested horses a concern for California Chrome

If you're planning to bet against Triple Crown hopeful California Chrome, keep repeating this mantra: Fresh horses win the Belmont Stakes. Its last eight winners sat out the Preakness, and only Ride On Curlin and General a Rod will be challenging "Chromie" for the third time Saturday.

Billy Turner, 74, is the only living trainer with a Triple Crown trophy, thanks to all-time great Seattle Slew in 1977. Turner understands the dynamics of "The Test of the Champion" as well as anybody.

"I think some of the horses who skipped the Preakness will be formidable foes," Turner said. That doesn't mean he thinks California Chrome can't beat Kentucky Derby also-rans Commanding Curve, Wicked Strong, Samraat and Medal Count.

"I think it's going to boil down to being a riders' race, so it's going to be where decides to move, and it will go from there," Turner said.

The 1½-mile marathon and the cumulative effects of three races in five weeks can bring down any thoroughbred. "The Triple Crown is a hard grind, especially for the modern-day horse," Jimmy Jerkens, who trains Wicked Strong, said. "So it'll take a combination of things to beat him, that's for sure."