Triple Crown Contender California Chrome Has Michigan Connection: Where to Watch the Belmont Stakes

California Chrome, the thoroughbred that could be the first horse to win horse racing’s Triple Crown since 1978 in Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, has a Michigan connection.

One of the horse’s co-owners, Perry Martin, grew up tromping around the woods on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and attended Michigan Technological Institute, the Detroit Free Press reports. Martin’s mother, 83, still lives in Iron Mountain and his father’s ashes are spread across a deer camp on the U.P.

Free Press columnist Jeff Seidel found Martin’s number in a Google search, dialed him up and wrote that he was “stunned” when the transplanted Yooper answered his own phone. When asked what winning the Triple Crown would mean, Martin was hesitant.

» Read how Martin answered the question here.

Belmont Park’s handicappers made California Chrome a 3-5 favorite to win the race, Forbes reports.The Daily Racing Form gives the horse lower odds, 2-5.

If California Chrome runs the distance, he will be the 12th horse to win the Triple Crown. A horse named Affirmed won horse racing’s most coveted prize in 1978.

It’s estimated 15 million people will be watching the race, the longest in the Triple Crown series, and 14.9 million of them will be pulling for California Chrome to cross the finish line first.

Tell Us:

• Are you betting California Chrome will or will not make history in the Belmont Stakes and become the 12th horse to ever win the Triple Crown?