TRACK RECORD FOR ‘CHROME IN 12-LENGTH VICTORY IN WINTER CHALLENGE

By Robert Mieszerski —-

TRACK RECORD FOR CALIFORNIA CHROME IN 12-LENGTH VICTORY IN WINTER CHALLENGE;
ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD ON HAND TO SEE POPULAR 5-YEAR-OLD IN FINAL CALIFORNIA RACE

CYPRESS, Calif. – Before an enthusiastic on-track crowd of 5,023, California Chrome put on a show in his first start at the track where he has trained since January, 2014 in the $180,000 Winter Challenge Saturday at Los Alamitos.

The overwhelming 1-20 favorite in his final race in California, the 5-year-old son of Lucky Pulpit cruised past nine outclassed rivals in his prep for an anticipated rematch with Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Arrogate in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park.

Outrun early after breaking from the outside in the field of 10, California Chrome was kept in the clear and extremely wide by jockey Victor Espinoza, wanting to avoid any possible traffic problems.
Fifth after the opening half-mile, the 2014 Horse of the Year and world’s richest active thoroughbred moved up to join the leaders without urging, swept to the lead with about 2 ½ furlongs to run as the cheers and noise level from his loyal supporters – affectionately known as Chromies – began to increase.

From there, it was just a matter of what the margin of victory and the final time for the 1 1/16 miles would be.

California Chrome’s 16th win in 26 starts saw him finish a dozen lengths in front of 21-1 second choice Point Piper. He stopped the clock in a track record 1:40.03, breaking the old mark of 1:40.82 set by Uncle Lino April 30 in – ironically – the California Chrome Stakes.

Trained by Art Sherman for Taylor Made Farm and co-breeder Perry Martin, California Chrome paid $2.10 in a race that featured only win wagering. The $50,000 payday pushed his earnings to $14,502,652.
“I was pretty nervous before the race,’’ said Sherman amidst a throng near the winner’s circle. “You know your horse is better than the others running in the race, but it is a horse race and anything can happen. (Espinoza) rode him with a lot of confidence.

“You could see he was much the best. I told Victor keep him in the clear and don’t get him in any trouble. He rode him like he was about 10 lengths the best horse. It was just perfect.

“Now I can relax and get ready for the Pegasus. I want Arrogate bad. I have something in my heart that says Chrome can beat him.

“The atmosphere here was just wonderful. It did my heart really good to be able to see him run in front of Orange County people. They are such loyal fans. This was a great day for racing. You can see what happens when you have a star.

“Let’s hope he pulled up well. He looked fine when he came by. I know with his record he will be Older Horse of the Year, but I’m rooting for him to be Horse of the Year. That would be a great way for him to go out.’’

Espinoza was also pleased with how the race will set California Chrome up for his finale in Florida. California Chrome is scheduled to begin his stud career in Kentucky after he competes in the Pegasus World Cup.

“When I got on him today he was stronger and it really surprised me,’’ said Espinoza. “When that happens I have a lot of confidence.

“I played it by ear coming out of the gate and when I saw some horses inside of me go, I just decided to sit off them and keep him in the clear. He’s very tactical and doesn’t need the lead. It was just perfect.’’

Point Piper, who was an easy winner of the Grade III Longacres Mile Aug. 14 at Emerald Downs, banked $30,000 for finishing second while winding up 3 ¼ lengths in front of 98-1 shot Papacoolpapacool, who was making only his second career start on dirt. Papacoolpapacool, a 4-year-old Temple City gelding, earned $20,000. Ain’t Misbehavin collected $20,000 for finishing fourth and Avanti Bello, the third choice at 22-1, earned $15,000 for his fifth place effort. The remaining five – Presidentsky, Howdy, Wrightwood, Lucky J Lane and Unusual Meeting – in the field earned $10,000 apiece.

1st Running
$180,000 WINTER CHALLENGE
3-Year-Olds & Up
1 1/16 miles

Jockey Quotes

VICTOR ESPINOZA (Winner, California Chrome): “When I got on him today he was stronger and it really surprised me. When that happens I have a lot of confidence. I played it by ear coming out of the gate and when I saw some horses inside of me go, I just decided to sit off them and keep him in the clear. He’s very tactical and doesn’t need the lead. It was perfect.’’

Trainer Quotes

ART SHERMAN (Winner, California Chrome): “I was pretty nervous before the race. You know your horse is better than the others running in the race, but it is a horse race and anything can happen. (Jockey) Victor (Espinoza) rode him with a lot of confidence. You could see he was much the best. I told Victopr keep him in the clear and don’t get him in any trouble. He rode him like he was about 10 lengths the best horse. It was just perfect. Now I can relax and get ready for the ($12 million) Pegasus (World Cup Jan. 28 at Gulfstream Park). I want (Breeders’ Cup Classic winner) Arrogate bad. I have something in my heart that says Chrome can beat him. The atmosphere here was just wonderful. It did my heart really good to be able to run him in front of Orange County people. They are such loyal fans. This was a great day for racing. You can see what happens when you have a star. Let’s hope he pulled up well. He looked fine when he came by. I know with his record he will be Older Horse of the Year, but I’m rooting for him to be Horse of the Year. That would be a great way for him to go out.’’

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In the day’s other stakes event, Sircat Sally, who was stretching out after an impressive debut winner, was also a 12-length winner, leading virtually throughout as the 1-2 favorite in the $100,000 Soviet Problem.
Trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer for owner-breeder Joe Turner, the 2-year-old daughter of Surf Cat quickly assumed control from 17-1 shot Cash Prize, then simply improved her position the rest of the way in dominating five other California bred fillies.
Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Sircat Sally, who is out of the In Excess mare Sister Sally, completed the distance in 1:35.42, the fastest clocking for the Soviet Problem since the race was lengthened to one mile in 2014. It was run at seven furlongs in 2012-2013 at Hollywood Park.
Sircat Sally, who won by five lengths in her debut at six furlongs Nov. 20 at Del Mar, has earned $88,200. She paid $3, $2.60 and $2.20.
Cash Prize, the second longest shot in the field and a winner at Los Alamitos in her Sept. 17 initiation, returned $9.40 and $6.20 while finishing 1 ¼ lengths in front of 7-1 shot Bella Luma. The show price on Bella Luma was $3.60.
“The first time we didn’t expect that kind of performance and got it so we were a little spoiled,’’ said Don Chatlos, Hollendorfer’s assistant trainer. “Jerry was very confident today. The way she had galloped out in her race at Del Mar we didn’t think the distance would be a problem. She’s been here for several months so we thought she had the home court advantage. We’re excited about her future.’’
Racing resumes Sunday at Los Alamitos. Post time for closing day of the Winter Thoroughbred meet is 12:30 p.m.
The feature event on the nine-race program is the $100,000-guaranteed King Glorious Stakes. The one mile race is for 2-year-olds bred or sired in California.
California Diamond is the even-money favorite on Russ Hudak’s morning line. The Harbor the Gold colt is already a four-time stakes winner this year and was most recently second behind the undefeated – and recent winner of the Grade I Los Alamitos CashCall Futurity – Mastery in the Grade III Bob Hope Nov. 19.
Hall of Famer Kent Desormeaux will ride California Diamond for Gary Hartunian’s Rockingham Ranch and trainer Peter Miller. The King Glorious goes as race 7 and has a scheduled post time of 3:28 p.m.

Cover Photo: California Chrome; Zoe Metz Photo