NEW YORK (AP) – California Chrome failed in his bid to win the first Triple Crown in 36 years on Saturday last, losing the Belmont Stakes to long shot Tonalist and leaving his owner to complain others took “the coward’s way out” by skipping the first two legs of the Triple Crown.

Before tens of thousands hoping to see history, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner finished in a dead-heat for fourth with Wicked Strong. California Chrome’s loss extended the longest drought without a Triple Crown champion.

Three tough races in five weeks proved too demanding for California Chrome, who was sent off as the heavy 4-5 favourite. Affirmed remains the most recent Triple Crown winner in 1978.

The raucous crowd of 102,199 – the third-largest in Belmont history – was silenced when it became obvious that California Chrome lacked his usual punch in the stretch.

Jockey Victor Espinoza realised long before then that his chestnut colt wasn’t up to the gruelling 1 1/2-mile trip around the track’s sweeping turns.

“As soon as he came out of the gate, he wasn’t the same,” Espinoza said.

Alan Sherman, the son and assistant to trainer Art Sherman, agreed.

“When Victor started to squeeze on him, he didn’t respond,” he said. “He was wore out, I think.”

Once the official result was posted, fans sat in stunned silence before heading to the exits.

Tonalist beat Commissioner, another newcomer to the Triple Crown, by a head. Those two horses finished in the same order in the Peter Pan. Tonalist ran the distance in 2:28.52 minutes.

California Chrome broke quickly but was pressed immediately by Commissioner and General a Rod. Espinoza eased California Chrome back into third along the rail.

Approaching the final turn, California Chrome was maneuvered to the outside. He angled four-wide turning for home, just to the outside of Tonalist, who was close to the pace the entire race. Espinoza started whipping left-handed in the lane but California Chrome had no response.

Tonalist joined the growing list of Triple Crown spoilers, making California Chrome the 12th horse since Affirmed to lose his Triple try in the Belmont, the longest race in the series. In 2012, I’ll Have Another won the first two legs, but was scratched the day before the Belmont with a career-ending tendon injury.

“The Triple Crown itself, obviously it’s tough,” winning trainer Christophe Clement said. “If it would be easier to do it, then it would mean nothing.”

Tonalist was making just his fifth career start.

“We actually thought he finished second, but we got lucky, he won,” Clement said. “It was great.”