Titans Clash in San Antonio

Horse of the Year California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) squares off against fellow superstar Shared Belief (Candy Ride {Arg}) in a most-intriguing renewal of Santa Anita's GII San Antonio Invitational S., which will be part of The Jockey Club Tour broadcast on Fox Sports 1 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. EST. This will be the first start for Perry Martin and Steve Coburn's California Chrome since being named champion 3-year-old and Horse of the Year at last month's Eclipse Awards. The GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. hero's three highest Beyer Speed Figures were earned at this venue in March's GII San Felipe S., April's GI Santa Anita Derby and when a close third behind Bayern (Offlee Wild) and Toast of New York (Thewayyouare) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 1. The chestnut solidified year-end honors with a two-length score in Del Mar's grassy GI Hollywood Derby Nov. 29. 

Jungle Racing, KMN Racing Hollendorfer, Todaro, Litt and Solis II's 2013 champion juvenile Shared Belief had an arguably Eclipse-worthy season of his own, but finished third in the voting for champion 3-year-old behind 'Chrome' and Bayern. He romped in the GII Los Alamitos Derby in July, bested Toast of New York (Thewayyouare) and older horses in Del Mar's GI Pacific Classic S. Aug. 24, and solidified himself as the GI Breeders' Cup Classic favorite after overcoming some race riding in the track-and-trip GI Awesome Again S. Sept. 27. The Jerry Hollendorfer pupil wasn't as lucky in the Classic, as Bayern came over on him at the start, dashing his hopes and forcing him to settle for a valiant fourth all things considered. The dark bay made a last-second push for the Eclipse with a narrow win in the GI Malibu S. Dec. 26 that was flattered when runner-up Conquest Two Step (Two Step Salsa) returned to annex last Saturday's GII Palos Verdes S. “Shared Belief is as classy as classy comes,” said Hall of Famer Mike Smith. “Shared Belief is not a big horse that you're going to sit back on and go like Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}), who was imposing just to look at. He's not really that, but he's extremely athletic and really, really well-balanced. He's doing well. He looks good.” Smith added, “Conquest Two Step is the one who was 70-1 when I beat him with Shared Belief in the Malibu, and everyone said, 'Who did Shared Belief beat?' Well, you saw who he beat. The horse came back and demolished them in the Palos Verdes.” 

Pegram, Watson and Weitman's Hoppertunity (Any Given Saturday) is the race's third-most-likely winner. Last term's GII Rebel S. hero was a distant second in the Santa Anita Derby, and was many people's Kentucky Derby pick before being scratched from the race two days prior due to a foot injury. He resurfaced to be second in a seven-panel optional claimer here Oct. 29 before getting his Grade I win under the Twin Spires in the Nov. 28 Clark H. The bay enters off another victory in the GII San Pasqual S. Jan. 10, but must overcome a rail draw. “I live in the one hole,” quipped Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who seems to have a penchant for drawing poorly in big spots. “I don't know. I'm going to have to start going to the draw. I've always said, 'There are two things you need to get rid of in racing: the one hole and the last race.' I'd rather have been on the outside and clear.”