It’s been more than a dozen years since Victor Espinoza won
Espinoza and his No. 1 Derby prospect, California Chrome,
As always in horse racing, however, it’s first things
Since he has been beating up on state-breds in his last two
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“He’s getting better,” Espinoza said of the chestnut colt, who would become
the first Cal-bred to win the Kentucky Derby since Decidedly in 1962. “His last
two wins have given him so much more confidence.”
Espinoza won the 2002 Kentucky Derby wire-to-wire on War Emblem for Bob
Baffert and went on to guide that colt to victories in the Preakness and Haskell
Invitational. He has ridden California Chrome in his last two scores — the
December 22 King Glorious by 6 1/4 lengths at Hollywood Park and the
January 25 California Cup Derby at Santa Anita by 5 1/2 lengths.
The 41-year-old rider has also been working the
chestnut son of Lucky Pulpit, who is campaigned by breeders Steven Coburn and Martin Perry. Espinoza worked California Chrome the past two Saturdays at
the colt’s Los Alamitos headquarters, most recently clocking six furlongs in 1:11
4/5,
sans blinkers.
“When he goes to the track, he knows when he’s going to
work,” Espinoza said. “It was a nice, steady work for him Saturday. He went
without blinkers, and he’s more settled without them. With blinkers on, he’s
more aggressive.
“He’ll run with blinkers in the San Felipe,” as he has in
his last five starts.
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