By Joe Bianca
It will be no walkover for America's richest racehorse in his long-awaited return to the states, as the GII San Diego H. came up tougher than most could have imagined.
California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit), last seen in the western hemisphere Jan. 9 when he notched a workmanlike victory in Santa Anita's GII San Pasqual S., surpassed previous earnings record-holder Curlin (Smart Strike) with an incredible win in the G1 Dubai World Cup Mar. 26, a race in which he ran the last half-mile with his saddle slipping. The 2014 GI Kentucky Derby and GI Preakness S. hero has drilled extensively for this springboard to the GI Pacific Classic and GI Breeders' Cup Classic, working a mile in 1:39 3/5 at his Los Alamitos base July 9 before breezing a best-of-85 five furlongs in :59 1/5 over the Del Mar strip one week later.
Installed as the 4-5 morning line favorite, the 5-year-old chestnut will tote high weight at 126 pounds under regular rider Victor Espinoza. He encounters a legitimately strong group, however, and, in a made-for-TV face-off, will battle another highly anticipated returnee, Kaleem Shah's 'TDN Rising Star' Dortmund (Big Brown).
Winner of his first six career starts before finishing third and fourth, respectively, behind American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, the Bob Baffert trainee hasn't been out since dominating the GIII Native Diver S. on this oval Nov. 28. The 4-year-old colt has turned in a trio of six-furlong works for his comeback, most recently clocking 1:12 over this track July 17. Made the clear second choice on the morning line, he will be piloted by Gary Stevens and get five pounds from the favorite.
With Dortmund expected to be the pacesetter and California Chrome figuring to stalk him from close range, an epic stretch battle between the two Golden State heavyweights may be in the cards. This will be only the fourth time in history that a pair of GI Santa Anita Derby winners will meet.
Win the Space (Pulpit) and Hard Aces (Hard Spun), second and third in the GI Gold Cup S. June 25 at Santa Anita, are the most likely upsetters should the top choices falter. Both should benefit if the pace heats up, although Win the Space showed improved early speed in the Gold Cup.
California Chrome will be racing to benefit the V Foundation, with a portion of his future earnings going to the organization. The Chrome team will also auction off race-worn items, including the horse's blinkers and Espinoza's silks. You can learn more at www.jimmyv.org.
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