Everybody is talking about California Chrome, pictured here using an infrared camera as he prepares to make history in New York. 
The three-year-old is bidding to become the first horse since 1978 to win the prestigious Triple Crown. 
Here California Chrome waits for a bath after jogging on the main track ahead of this weekend's final leg of the treble, the Belmont Stakes. 
The last horse to achieve the feat was Affirmed, ridden to the trio of victories by Steve Cauthen 36 years ago. 
Belmont Park is known as "The Big Sandy" due to its sandy dirt terrain, highlighted by this infrared filter. 
An exercise rider trains a horse at Belmont Park, where 100,000 fans will be expected for the big race. 
California Chrome, seen here with exercise rider Willie Delgado in his barn after training at Belmont, has been dubbed a horse racing "rock star." 
California Chrome's jockey Victor Espinoza had the chance of a Triple Crown in 2002 with War Emblem but fell short. He says he never dreamed of getting a second shot at the treble. 
Having won the Kentucky and Preakness races, War Emblem stumbled out of the stalls at the Belmont Stakes, and Espinoza did well not to be unsaddled as a result. 
California Chrome's bid for the triple began with victory at the Kentucky Derby five weeks ago. 
And leg two was ticked off at the Preakness Stakes, making the triple a distinct possibility this Saturday at Belmont Park. 
California Chrome will face 10 rivals at Belmont Park, including Kentucky Derby runner-up Commanding Curve and Ride on Curlin, second at the Preakness Stakes. 
- NEW: Tonalist finishes ahead of California Chrome
- Daunting Triple Crown challenge squeezes three races into a five-week period
New York (CNN) -- [Breaking news alert, 7:01 p.m. ET]
Tonalist, ridden by Joel Rosario, won the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, denying California Chrome the Triple Crown.
Had California Chrome won, he would have been the first horse in 36 years to sweep the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes
[Original story published at 6:25 p.m. ET]
Hopes run high as California Chrome takes aim at Triple Crown history
Will he become Triple Chrome?
On a warm and sunny Saturday in Elmont, New York, California Chrome will attempt to the win the elusive Triple Crown of U.S. horse racing at the Belmont Stakes.
In the 134 years the grueling series of races for 3-year-old thoroughbreds have all been contested -- the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes -- only 11 horses have won all three. Since Affirmed became the last Triple Crown winner in 1978, a dozen horses have won the first two legs without pulling off the feat.
Fate has been especially unkind in recent years: Big Brown, a prohibitive favorite in 2008, failed to finish the Belmont Stakes, and I'll Have Another failed to start in 2012, scratched due to an injury.
But even if the trend doesn't seem to favor it, ESPN racing expert Hank Goldberg told CNN Saturday, "I think we're going to see history."
Chrome: 'He looks really great right now' 
Jockey: California Chrome likes to run 
What California Chrome will see California Chrome is the favorite on the mile-and-a-half Belmont Park Race Track, where a crowd of 100,000 is expected. The daunting Triple Crown challenge squeezes three races into a five-week period, in an era when thoroughbreds normally run no more than once a month.
Adding to the rigor is the course itself: Belmont is a quarter-mile longer than Churchill Downs, home of the Derby, and five-sixteenths longer than Pimlico Race Course, where the Preakness is run.
In the Belmont, California Chrome will start in the second post position -- the same gate that Secretariat shot out from in 1973 on track to Triple Crown glory and racing immortality.
"I expect him to win," co-owner Steve Coburn said. "I really do."
After the Preakness, New York racing officials decided to allow California Chrome to wear a breathing strip at Belmont Park.
The manufacturer of the strip has said it allows horses to breathe more freely and reduces the risk of bleeding in the lungs during heavy exertion. California Chrome has worn the strips during his last six wins.
"That nose strip really doesn't mean a thing," Goldberg said. "It helps people breathe a little easier. It helps people who have sleep disorders sleep better. It won't affect him in the slightest."
Mexican jockey Victor Espinoza, who is unbeaten on board the colt, is getting his second chance to win the Triple Crown. In 2002, he was riding War Emblem, but his mount stumbled out of the gate and nearly unseated Espinoza. After that, Espinoza said, "my chance goes to the toilet."
Espinoza has been racing at Belmont all week. He threw the first pitch at a game at Yankee Stadium, rang the bell at the New York Stock Exchange and appeared on "Late Show With David Letterman."
He rode in two races Saturday, winning neither. He is hopeful the race that matters most turns out differently.
Chrome: 'He looks really great right now' 
Here's a look back at the 11 horses who've managed the feat. Sir Barton was the first horse to earn the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, as it would come to be known, by winning the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in 1919. 
More than a decade later, Gallant Fox captured the Triple Crown in 1930. 
Omaha -- the son of Gallant Fox -- won the Triple Crown in 1935. Here, jockey Pat Beasley rides the horse in 1936. 
War Admiral took the Triple Crown in 1937. He won 21 of his 26 career starts. 
Whirlaway (here with horse Robert Morris) won the Triple Crown in 1941 and was named Horse of the Year. 
Count Fleet, who won the Triple Crown in 1943, is adorned with a garland of flowers after winning the Preakness Stakes in 1943. 
Assault won the Triple Crown in 1946. 
Citation at Belmont Park in 1947. He would win the Triple Crown the following year. 
Secretariat, left, heads to victory with jockey Ron Turcotte at the Kentucky Derby in 1973. Considered by many to be the greatest racehorse of all time, Secretariat still holds the record for the fastest times in all three Triple Crown races. He won the Belmont Stakes by an astounding 31 lengths. 
Jockey Jean Cruguet guides Seattle Slew to the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes in 1977. 
Jockey Steve Cauthen rides Affirmed to victory at the Belmont Stakes in 1978. Triple Crown winners "Very few horses go in all three races and there are a lot of good horses in the field on Saturday that will be fresher," Espinoza told CNN. "That's why it's so, so tough."
California Chrome's biggest threats are considered to be Tonalist, winner of the Peter Pan Stakes; Preakness runner-up Ride on Curlin; and Commanding Curve, No.2 in the Derby and apparently refreshed after his last race.
"This horse never seems to have a bad day, whether he's working out or running when it counts," Goldberg said of California Chrome. "The only thing that can do him in is if they turn the temperature up 20 degrees and he cramps up like LeBron James and that isn't likely."
Terry Finley, president of West Point Thoroughbreds and owner of Commanding Curve, second-place finisher at the Derby, said "all eyes will be on California Chrome."
"He's in a tough spot because all of the other riders will see the 'X' on his back," Finley said. "He's a star. He's carried himself really well since he's been up here at Belmont. We're all afraid of him and, if California Chrome has a really good day, we're all running for second. But I hope he doesn't."
The Belmont Stakes prize is about $800,000 to the winner. California Chrome stands to win more than $3 million in total purses from the three races and, on top of that, endorsement deals and a jackpot in future breeding rights.
The beleaguered racing industry, battered for decades by gambling competition and changing entertainment tastes, also stands to benefit.
"If California Chrome wins," said Christopher Kay, CEO of the New York Racing Association, "I think it will bring a whole new generation of fans to this great sport."
The people who know the horse: California Chrome's biggest fans
Will long wait for Triple Crown end at Belmont?
California Chrome's jockey ready for another shot at Triple Crown
Matt Majendie and CNN's Richard Roth and Laura Dolan contributed to this report.
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