Valley fans ready for California Chrome to take home Triple Crown
FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- California Chrome's countdown has started. On Saturday the Valley horse tries to become the first Triple Crown winner since "Affirmed" in 1978.
The Coalinga-bred colt appeared rested and ready for the Belmont Stakes in New York. The 3-5 race favorite has beat the odds and energized Valley fans in the process.
At the Harris Ranch Inn and Restaurant in Coalinga a cardboard cutout of California Chrome greets camera ready visitors. Folks here love everything locally grown.
Six-hundred more California Chrome T-shirts will be available Saturday morning but they won't last long.
Harris Ranch general manager Kirk Doyle said, "People are looking for anything with California Chrome on it so we've been selling t shirts and pilsner glasses and wine glasses."
As soon as the wine glasses went on display folks like Linda Shirley of San Diego snapped them up.
Shirley said, "I have two wine glasses that have California Chrome on it since you're out of T-shirts."
Some fans enjoyed watching Chrome's previous wins on TV.
Debbie Winick works at Harris Farms Horse Division, where the super horse was born to "Love the Chase" and sired by "Lucky Pulpit."
Everyone wants to be a "Chromie" these days and a shirt with cool pictures on the front and back was handed out to employees.
Winick said, "All of our farm people have them and we're representing California Chrome. Everybody needs a hero and Chrome's our hero."
Harris Farms CEO John Harris, his wife, Chrome's co-owner Steve Coburn and his wife are enjoying the New York hype.
Harris said of Chrome, "He's been in the New York Times every day. All the media's covered him. Victor Espinoza was on the Letterman show last night. I think the owners of the horse rang the bell at the stock exchange this morning."
No doubt California Chrome's stock is on the rise.
The California Chrome cutout clearly the big attraction at Harris Ranch. People can't walk by without first snapping a photo or maybe a "selfie."
