Santa Anita Derby Gets ‘Chromed’ Out
Perry Martin and Steve Coburn’s California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) turned heads and dropped jaws yesterday in the GI Santa Anita Derby, galloping away from his competition with uncommon ease to solidify his spot as the favorite for next month’s GI Kentucky Derby. GII Rebel S. winner Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) was 5 1/4 lengths back in second after a perfect trip, while GII Robert B. Lewis S. hero Candy Boy (Candy Ride {Arg}) held on for third. “Right now, he’s kind of freaky and I’m enjoying it,” said winning trainer Art Sherman. “I can’t believe the races I’ve been seeing. A length or two might have been alright with me.” The 77-year-old was the exercise rider for 1955 Kentucky Derby and Santa Anita Derby winner Swaps–a Cal-bred just like California Chrome–but would be saddling his first-ever runner in the Churchill Classic. “He’s my Swaps, let’s put it that way,” said Sherman of California Chrome. “If all goes well, we’ll ship to Kentucky probably a week before the Derby.”
Saturday, Santa Anita Park
SANTA ANITA DERBY-GI, $1,000,750, SAX, 4-5, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:47 2/5, ft.
1–CALIFORNIA CHROME, 122, c, 3, by Lucky Pulpit
1st Dam: Love the Chase, by Not for Love
2nd Dam: Chase It Down, by Polish Numbers
3rd Dam: Chase the Dream, by Sir Ivor
O/B-Steven Coburn & Perry Martin (CA); T-Art
Sherman; J-Victor Espinoza. $600,000. Lifetime
Record: 10-6-1-0, $1,134,850. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Hoppertunity, 122, c, 3, Any Given Saturday–
Refugee, by Unaccounted For. ($300,000 yrl
’12 KEESEP). O-Karl Watson, Michael E Pegram,
Paul Weitman; B-Betz/DJ Stable/Kidder/J
Betz/Robenalt (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $200,000.
3–Candy Boy, 122, c, 3, Candy Ride (Arg)–She’s An
Eleven, by In Excess (Ire). O-C R K Stable; B-Lee
& Susan Searing (KY); T-John W Sadler. $120,000.
Margins: 5 1/4, 3HF, HF. Odds: 0.70, 4.40, 2.60.
Also Ran: Dublin Up, Big Tire, Rprettyboyfloyd, Friendswith K Mill, Schoolofhardrocks.
Click for the brisnet.com chart, the brisnet.com PPs or the free brisnet.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.
Winner of the Graduation S. for Cal-breds at Del Mar last July, California Chrome was a close-up sixth in the GI Del Mar Futurity in September. He filled the same slot in this strip’s one-mile Golden State Juvenile S. Nov. 1, but returned off the bench to romp by 6 1/4 lengths in Hollywood’s seven-panel King Glorious S. He took the California Cup Derby by a similar margin over GISW Tamarando (Bertrando) going a sixteenth shorter here Jan. 25, but stepped up to a whole different level when blitzing the GII San Felipe S. by 7 1/4 lengths Mar. 8, good for a gaudy 108 Beyer Speed Figure. Away a bit awkwardly, the chestnut tugged his way up to press Dublin Up (Unbridled’s Song) through swift opening splits of :22.89 and :47.02 with Candy Boy on his right flank and Hoppertunity drafting in behind. The chalk began to shake free nearing the quarter pole, and Hoppertunity looked like his only potential danger. But nobody was getting to California Chrome, and he answered resolutely when popped the question by Victor Espinoza to win in a canter.
“I got a little spooked leaving the gate,” said Sherman. “He got banged around pretty good, but I really think he’s a better horse stalking… When he won the San Felipe, he was on the lead all the way, which is something new to me, but I really prefer this type of race where he’s right off the lead.” Espinoza added, “He knows what’s going on [when he goes to the gate]. He’s calm and focused, but for some reason, we missed the break a tiny bit, but I put him in the race right away. I didn’t want to get stuck in traffic. It worked out well.”
Bob Baffert, trainer of the runner-up, said, “He’s a really good horse [California Chrome]. I was really happy with my race. I’m glad I ran my horse. He got $200,000 for finishing second. I got beat today but I’m really happy with my horse. Oh, yeah: he’s going [to the Kentucky Derby].”