California Chrome jockey Victor Espinoza will seek redemption on Saturday when he rides California Chrome for a chance at the elusive Triple Crown.
Espinoza will also seeks to avoid being remembered as a jockey who lost two opportunities to win the Triple Crown.
In 2002, Espinoza rode War Emblem for a shot at the Triple Crown only to lose stunningly to 70-1 Savara.
As ESPN noted, Espinoza said he tried to do too much with War Emblem in the Triple Crown race where jockeys may matter the most.
War Emblem stumbled out of the gate at the 2002 Belmont Stakes, and, coincidentally, “the only tiny fault Espinoza ever mentions about California Chrome is Chrome’s tendency to — what do you know? — get distracted in the start gate.”
He’s also racing for his brother. Espinoza has actually had “some of the biggest success of his racing life in the months since his older brother and fellow jockey Jose suffered serious brain trauma in a race.”