Texas Chrome rallied determinedly up the rail to just best Sticksstatelydude and earn his second straight graded victory in Sunday's GIII Oklahoma Derby. Off as the 23-10 favorite in this full field, the bay colt settled in sixth along the rail as Way Striking (Smart Strike) ensured an honest pace up top, going a quarter in :22.95. Sticksstatelydude moved closer to challenge that one past a half in :47.25 and collared the pacesetter after three quarters in 1:11.69. Moving into contention behind rivals at the top of the stretch, Texas Chrome was forced to angle in sharply at the eighth pole to challenge the new leader from the rail. Sticksstatelydude made it tight for the favorite, but he would not be denied, pushing through to get the better of his rival in the final 70 yards.
“I knew there was other speed going into the race, so my plan was to use the one hole to my advantage,” explained winning rider C J McMahon. “I was looking to save ground and hope something would open up and it did. I was thinking of going outside, I could see [Rafael] Bejarano [on Fish Trappe Road] still had some horse and I knew he wasn't going to let me in if he had as much horse as I thought he did. So when I saw the inside open up, I just went for it. I knew my horse was game.”
Winning owner Danny Keene added, “We keep worrying about him and worrying about him and saying it can't be true, but he just keeps pulling the big ones out.”
The consistent Texas Chrome opened his career with three straight wins last summer, culminating with a 2 1/2-length tally in the Gold Rush Futurity at Arapahoe Park in August. He added a four-length tally in the Oct. 12 Governor's Cup at Zia Park and was fifth behind Suddenbreakingnews (Mineshaft) in the Nov. 6 Clever Trevor S. over the Remington oval in his final outing for trainer Shea Stuart. Texas Chrome moved to the graded ranks after romping home a 10 1/2-length winner of the Texas Stallion S. at Lone Star in May and was third behind Gun Runner (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the June 18 GIII Matt Winn S. and second behind American Freedom (Pulpit) in the July 1 GIII Iowa Derby. After winning the Aug. 6 Prelude S., he returned to Louisiana Downs to annex the Sept. 10 GIII Super Derby just 15 days ago.
Pedigree Notes:
Margarita Mistress, a full-sister to stakes winner Guacamole, produced a filly by Special Rate in 2015 and a filly by Data Link this year. Grasshopper, who was second in the 2007 GI Travers S., currently stands at Valor Farm in Texas for $3,500.
Sunday, Remington Park
OKLAHOMA DERBY-GIII, $400,000, RP, 9-25, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:48.94, gd.
1–TEXAS CHROME, 124, c, 3, by Grasshopper
1st Dam: Margarita Mistress, by Naevus
2nd Dam: Four O'Clock Post, by Regal Classic
3rd Dam: Fatal Hour, by Briartic
($10,000 Ylg '14 TEXOCT). O-Keene Thoroughbreds LLC;
B-Craig D. Upham (TX); T-J. R. Caldwell; J-C.J. McMahon.
$240,000. Lifetime Record: MGSW, 13-8-1-3, $842,462. Werk
Nick Rating: A *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Sticksstatelydude, 124, c, 3, First Dude–Placerita, by Gilded
Time. ($40,000 Wlg '13 FTKNOV; $30,000 RNA Ylg '14 KEESEP).
O-A. Haynes, J. Ferris, Pack Pride Racing, M. Haynes & B. Ward;
B-Canyon Lake Thoroughbreds (VA); T-Greg Burchell. $80,000.
3–Fish Trappe Road, 124, c, 3, Trappe Shot–Electric Shock, by
Cure the Blues. ($140,000 Ylg '14 SARAUG; $95,000 2yo '15
OBSMAR). O-Martin Racing Stable LLC; B-Rhapsody Faarm LLC
& Jon Davis (NY); T-W. Bret Calhoun. $44,000.
[bullet ad=”crupi-trained”][bullet ad=”nytb-ny-bred-why-breed-anywhere-else”]Margins: HF, 3, NK. Odds: 2.30, 4.40, 2.00.
Also Ran: Pass the Buck, Secret Passage, Seeking Blame, Solve, Way Striking, Inside Straight, Ready Intaglio, Ready Dancer.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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