6th-MEY, $150,000, Hcp, 2-25, NH4yo/up & SH3yo/up, 10f, 2:04.24, ft.
“Perfect race,” was the description used by trainer Art Sherman after CALIFORNIA CHROME (h, 5, Lucky Pulpit–Love the Chase, by Not For Love) romped in a Meydan handicap Thursday, and the 5-year-old's owners and legions of fans worldwide were likely echoing that sentiment after what looked like a seamless preparation for the world's richest race, the $10 million G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26. Off a half-step slow from the inside gate, California Chrome looked briefly inclined to engage the speed under Victor Espinoza as they raced past the stands, but dropped back to stalk the pace in third as the field swung into the first turn. Three wide and about a length off the lead–much like he was at the same stage in last year's Dubai World Cup–down the backstretch, the chestnut inherited the lead at the top of the lane as the overmatched Success Story (Kor) (Peace Rules) and Hunting Ground (Street Cry {Ire}) began to tire. The 2014 American Horse of the Year was never under any danger, drawing clear under a motionless Espinoza to win by two geared-down lengths from Storm Belt (More Than Ready). The win–which was in the same race used by Curlin (Smart Strike) as a springboard to a Dubai World Cup victory in 2008, albeit at a different track–sets the four-time Grade I winner up for his second crack at the world's richest race. He was second last year.
California Chrome rose to international fame in 2014 as the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. winner with the underdog connections. While his Triple Crown dreams faded with him when he was fourth in the GI Belmont S., a new goal arose soon after: the G1 Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race. Third, beaten a quarter-length, in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita in 2014, California Chrome rounded out that campaign with a win in the GI Hollywood Derby on the grass and was crowned America's champion 3-year-old male and Horse of the Year. California Chrome warmed up for last year's World Cup with a second-place finish to the ill-fated champion Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GII San Antonio S. going nine furlongs in January, and wound up second in the World Cup after being run down late by longshot Prince Bishop (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). The flashy chestnut was set for an international campaign that would include a tilt at Royal Ascot's G1 Prince of Wales's S. in June thereafter, but was withdrawn from consideration for that race after suffering a bone bruise just days before. Rerouted to Chicago to prepare for the GI Arlington Million in August, California Chrome was found to have bone bruising shortly after returning stateside. Plans were altered again, with the colt instead spending the summer recuperating at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky, which did a deal to buy out part owner and breeder Steve Coburn and stand California Chrome upon his retirement from racing. California Chrome returned to trainer Art Sherman in California late last year to rave reviews, and lived up to expectations to win his much-anticipated return in Santa Anita's GII San Pasqual S. Jan. 10. Shipped to Dubai later that month, California Chrome has been training under the tutelage of Sherman's son and assistant Alan Sherman. Art Sherman said his charge got what he needed out of Thursday's race. “We were very satisfied with the race–now I feel really good for the $10 million race coming up,” Sherman said. “With that mile and a quarter under his belt, he's going to be double tough, I think. We're looking for the best and it's going to be a great race here on the 26th of March, I can tell you that. There's going to be a lot of good horses running.”
Sherman revealed he is keeping an eye on Curlin's North American earnings record of $10,501,800. California Chrome has thus far banked $6,442,650, and a win in the World Cup is worth $6 million. “If we could ever get lucky he'd wind up being the richest Thoroughbred ever, passing Curlin, who is a great Thoroughbred, and it would be an honour for that to happen,” Sherman said.
Espinoza described the win as “easy.”
“The way he looked is the way he won,” he said. “I didn't want to overdo it with him today because I know it's a short frame of time for the next race so I didn't want to empty the tank today. He went nice and comfortable, we got a good position on the first turn and from there he was pretty much all by himself.” When asked if California Chrome is better than he was last year, Espinoza said, “Believe it or not, it's true. When he's feeling good he comes out of the gate like a rocket, and it's a good sign that he's back to his normal energy like before.”
Click for the Racing Post result. VIDEO. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year, Ch. 3yo Colt, MGISW-US, G1SP-UAE, 20-11-3-1, $6,532,650. O-California Chrome, LLC; B-Perry Martin & Steve Coburn (CA); T-Art Sherman.
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