Der X Cup » only jockey to get two cracks at winning

NEW YORK -- Since Affirmed swept the last Triple Crown in 1978, Victor Espinoza is the only jockey to get two cracks at winning the elusive title again. Both times hes left empty. It was War Emblem in 2002. On Saturday, it was California Chromes turn to lose the Belmont after capturing the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. "We reached almost to the top," Espinoza said. "Just one step away to get to the top." California Chrome finished in a dead heat for fourth, a disappointment to bettors who made him the 4-5 favourite. The Belmont was the third tough race in a short five-week span. His tank was empty. "As soon as he came out of the gate he wasnt the same," Espinoza said. Espinoza, 41, was once a bus driver in his native Mexico City. He has won riding titles at four Southern California tracks, winning over 3,000 races and earning $169 million in purses. With history on the line, the rider did his best to nurse California Chrome through the 1 1/2-mile race. Espinoza kept him on the rail in the early stages. On the final turn, with time running out, Espinoza shifted California Chrome outside to light a spark. "By five eighths pole (the top of the turn) he was empty," the jockey said. "I tried to move out to see if it would make a difference." Not with a tired horse. "I was just waiting for to have the same kick like he always had before," Espinoza said. "Today he was a bit flat down the lane. He ran back-to-back races at different tracks, and against those fresh horses." At least this time, California Chrome got to run his race. War Emblem was a different kind of horse, a confirmed front runner who had to have it his way to be effective. War Emblem stumbled at the start of the Belmont. Espinoza got him back into the race but playing catchup was not War Emblems game. He finished eighth. Jockeys rarely get a chance for Triple Crown redemption. Espinoza was handed one when California Chrome launched a six-race winning streak the moment they teamed up. It was a magical run that started in races restricted to horses bred in California. It picked up momentum in the Santa Anita Derby and crashed the national stage in the Derby and the Preakness. In every win, California Chrome proved responsive to every command by Espinoza. They won on the lead. They came from just off the pace. "The last time I had been here, I stumbled," Espinoza said. "Today I dont feel bad. California Chrome was just empty today." Kerryon Johnson Jersey . A judge had summoned Clemens and Brian McNamee to federal court in Brooklyn for settlement talks aimed at heading off a trial in the defamation case. McNamees lawyer emerged saying an agreement wasnt likely. "I think this is a case where the lines are deeply drawn in the sand," said attorney Richard Emery. Tracy Walker Jersey . It was the most lopsided loss in Lakers history. 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He quickly tossed it to shortstop Chris Owings, who flipped over his shoulder to left fielder Cody Ross.SOCHI – Finland will be shorthanded when it clashes with Canada on Sunday. Young forward Aleksander Barkov, who left a couple of shifts into the third period of his teams game on Friday, has suffered a knee injury that will force him out for the remainder of the Olympic tournament. The 18-year-old Barkov had an assist in his five-plus periods in Sochi. According to published reports in Finland, Barkov is expected to be out from four to six weeks. The Finns already were without star players Mikko Koivu and Valteri Filppula to begin the Winter Games. Koivu suffered an ankle injury in early January that he hasnt fully recovered from and Filppula was knocked out action with a broken ankle in late January. But without Koivu and Filppula, the Finns still managed to score a combined 15 goals in wins over Austria and Norway. Goaltending, however, is tthe strength of the Finnish team, which like Canada also took the day off to rest on Saturday.dddddddddddd Tuukka Rask played in Finlands first win and made only 12 saves in an 8-4 decision over Austria. Kari Lehtonen was in goal for Finlands 6-1 victory over Norway. If Rask starts against Canada, will assistant coach Claude Julien share any secrets with the Canadian players? Julien, of course, coaches Rask with the Boston Bruins. “First of all, we dont know who will be their starting goalie, so I havent said a word about Tuukka yet,” Julien said. “When the time comes, and I told Tuukka before the Games that Ill say it, he doesnt really like shootouts. Hes been very public about it. Hes an excellent goalie. We havent spent too much time on goalies strengths and weaknesses. 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