Return to Today's Full Edition
|
Chrome equally at home on turf in Hollywood Derby
 |
| Aside from potential Eclipse Award ramifications, California Chrome also opened up the possibility of traveling to Royal Ascot
(Benoit Photos) |
Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero California Chrome seamlessly transferred
his game to turf in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,250
Hollywood Derby, in a race loaded with Eclipse Award implications. By
notching his fourth Grade 1 victory of the season, the popular California-bred
sparked more discussion about his candidacy for champion three-year-old male,
and emboldened his supporters' hopes for the Horse of the Year title.Although California Chrome was the undisputed divisional leader two-thirds of
the way through the Triple Crown, he went on to lose three straight. The Art
Sherman trainee dead-heated for fourth after a stumbling start in the June 8
Belmont Stakes, and tired to sixth behind Bayern in the September 20
Pennsylvania Derby. Back to peak form for the November 1 Breeders' Cup Classic,
California Chrome still could not get by Bayern, or by English shipper Toast of
New York, and settled for a close third.
Steve Coburn and Perry Martin's homebred thereby entered the Hollywood Derby
as something of a turf experiment, with the incentive of garnering another Grade
1 on a new surface. The bid paid off, to the delight of the fans who sent
California Chrome off as the 3-5 favorite.
"Art said he had a real strong gut feeling that this horse would run on the
grass," Coburn said. "We said, 'OK Art, if you really feel that strong, let's
find a race for him.' This was it. This is for the fans."
|
The flashy chestnut broke like a shot for regular rider Victor Espinoza and
led through an opening quarter in :23 2/5 on Del Mar's firm turf. Sawyer's Hill
then signaled his intent on wresting the lead, and Espinoza wisely throttled
"Chrome" back into second. As Sawyer's Hill sped ahead through splits of :46 4/5
and 1:11 2/5, Chrome was traveling ominously well. Lexie Lou, the filly who beat
the boys in the Queen's Plate, moved closer entering the far turn, in company
with Flamboyant, and for a few strides, the race appeared to get interesting.
But California Chrome quickly snuffed out any thoughts of drama. Brushing
Sawyer's Hill aside in short order swinging into the stretch, the dual classic
winner bounded clear. He maintained a two-length advantage over Lexie Lou while
finishing nine grassy furlongs in 1:47 4/5.
"That kick at the end, that acceleration -- it was just like when he won the
(Kentucky) Derby," Espinoza said. "It all went well today. The horse inside
(Sawyer's Hill) didn't break as fast as I thought he would and my horse went
right to the front. I thought the other horse would go, but I was ready for most
anything happening there at the beginning. I let the other horse go by going
into the first turn and I was happy right where I was. He was going easy.
"Then when we got to the far turn, he was ready to roll. Oh, was he ready to
roll! He just turned it on and I knew we were home. You can see now that grass
is no problem. Grass, dirt, synthetic -- you name it. This horse likes it and
he'll run on it."
 |
| Victor Espinoza felt that Chrome had the same acceleration as on dirt
(Benoit Photos) |
"I knew he was going to be sharp leaving the gate," Sherman said, "and I told
Victor not to be too far out of it. When he broke really sharp, I said 'Oh,
wow.' But Victor knew what to do when Sawyer's Hill wanted the lead. There was
never any point where I was really anxious. I was confident. We're here on our
home ground, he's got all the people here and he's such a favorite with
everybody. It makes me feel good to know I can run him on the grass. Just
another option."Lexie Lou had a length to spare from third-placer Talco. Sawyer's Hill faded
to fourth, trailed by Cabral and Flamboyant, who was essentially wrapped up on
in midstretch.
California Chrome's resume now stands at 16-9-1-1, $4,222,650. Victorious in
the Graduation Stakes over Del Mar's Polytrack as a juvenile, he commenced a
six-race winning streak with a 6 1/4-length romp in the King Glorious on closing
day at Hollywood last December. California Chrome went on to similarly dominant
victories at Santa Anita in the January 25 Cal Cup Derby, March 8 San Felipe and
April 5 Santa Anita Derby. He next took his game on the road to justify 5-2
favoritism in the May 3 Kentucky Derby, and prevailed as the 1-2 favorite in the
May 17 Preakness, only to have his Triple Crown dreams dashed in the Belmont.
By far the top performer by Lucky Pulpit, who was best known as a turf
sprinter himself, California Chrome is the first registered foal from the
winning Not for Love mare Love the Chase. This extended family is responsible
for Cascapedia, the champion older mare of 1977.
With his turf aptitude proven, Sherman is now looking toward possible
international ventures.
|
"We've got a lot of options. Royal Ascot wants us to come over to England.
They said 'We'll treat you royally.' And we've got Dubai in March. That's
another option.
"We're going to definitely run him another year," the trainer added. "And
he's a good shipper. He gets on an airplane like he's a frequent flier."
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
Send this article to a friend
|
|
