California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) exited his dazzling victory in Saturday's GI Awesome Again S. in fine shape, according to trainer Art Sherman and connections have their eyes set on a return to Arcadia in five weeks for the Nov. 5 GI Breeders' Cup Classic.
“He looked great this morning,” Sherman said from his Los Alamitos base Sunday morning. “I went over him and he looks like a horse that didn't even run. The horse amazes me. We've just got to keep him healthy and fresh for the Breeders' Cup.”
Victor Espinoza had practically pulled California Chrome up as the pair crossed the wire 2 1/4 lengths in front of the chasing Dortmund (Big Brown).
“Victor told me he eased him up the last 70 yards,” said Sherman. “It was quite a thrill for me. The people, everybody who's involved with the horse, we've got a great bunch of owners, what can you say?”
Asked how he celebrated the victory, Sherman said, “[My wife] Faye and I went out for a little Mexican food with my niece. I had a couple of margaritas and was ready for bed.”
The plan leading up to the Breeders' Cup is basically to keep the routine that has led to six straight victories.
“It'll be the same kind of plan,” Sherman explained. “We'll train him here at Los Al and bring him to Santa Anita a week out. I'm not going to change anything. It seemed to be a good plan, so we're not going to change it.”
Jockey Victor Espinoza enjoyed a successful day Saturday. In addition to riding California Chrome to victory in the Awesome Again, the 44-year-old jockey also won the GI FrontRunner S. aboard Gormley (Malibu Moon) and the GI Zenyatta S. with Stellar Wind (Curlin).
“It was a great day,” Espinoza said Sunday morning. “I was ready and prepared for a big day like that. I thought if everything went well and all the horses I rode performed the way it looked on paper, it would be a fun day and very special. When you ride a horse like Chrome, in addition to winning, you're always looking forward to the next race. I was winning easy, so I didn't want to use him too much, because the next race is going to be very important and tough. I had to save his energy for the Classic.”
Of Stellar Wind's gritty victory over Beholder (Henny Hughes), Espinoza added, “She's an awesome filly who's gotten better as she's gotten older. Basically, she doesn't do things on her own. I had to earn my pay riding her because you have to ask her to run. But for her to twice beat the best mare ever shows how great she is. Take nothing away from Beholder in defeat. They're both the best, but right now, I think Stellar Wind is better.”
Espinoza scored a 10-1 upset aboard Gormley in the FrontRunner, besting 3-10 favorite Klimt (Quality Road) by three lengths.
“It was a bit of a challenge for me because we had the one hole,” Espinoza admitted. “I thought maybe I'd break and sit back because it was his first time going two turns. I didn't really want to push him too much. But when something happened to the three [expected pacesetter Secret House, whose rider, Santiago Gonzalez, “stepped off” as the gates opened], I said 'Forget about it, let's go to the front.'”
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