As of 5:53 p.m. EDT on May 18, trainer Art Sherman had put in a formal request with New York regulators and stewards asking for permission to race California Chrome, the winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Preakness Stakes, with a nasal strip in the June 7 Belmont Stakes.

Steve Coburn and Perry Martin's California Chrome wore a FLAIR Nasal Strip, which is designed to aid a horse's breathing by opening the nasal passages, for his last six races, all victories by a combined 27 1/2-length margin. The Lucky Pulpit colt now has a shot to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.

The issue was first raised by Daily Racing Form in light of a similar situation in 2012. New York regulators said I'll Have Another, who also won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, couldn't wear a nasal strip in the Belmont; it became a moot point when the colt was scratched a day before the race.

Whether or not a horse can compete wearing a nasal strip is decided by New York Racing Association stewards

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