Wishing and hoping

I was watching one of those Belmont Classics shows a couple nights ago.  James wandered into the studio as the field of the 2004 race swept around the final turn.  Smarty Jones was in front and just for a moment I believed that maybe this time he would win.

He didn't.  

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

I sighed and said, "That race made me cry."

James asked, "Are you going to cry if California Chrome loses?"

"I don't know," I said, "but I'll definitely cry if he wins."

Naturally, that led to a discussion of Belmonts that still have the poser to make me cry, but in a good way.  We logged onto YouTube and watched Affirmed and Alydar...

AP Photo/Perez

and Secretariat.  

 Bob Coglianese—MCT/Landov

James was really impressed with Secretariat.  "I want to see California Chrome do that!" He exclaimed. 

I laughed and said, "Don't we all?"

But truthfully? I don't care about the winning margin.  I just want him to win.  Thirty one lengths or a short head, it's all the same to me.  

AP Photo/Garry Jones

In approximately five hours, California Chrome will enter the Belmont starting gate with the wishes and hopes of a million little--and not so little--horse girls riding on his back.  I don't know what will happen, but I'll be sure to have a box of Kleenex on hand.