A Race to Remember: California Chrome on the Del Mar Turf
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with great company, lots of food, a day of watching football, and a whole lotta' horse racing! In my family, horse racing and holidays go hand in hand, so early Friday morning we anxiously took the dreaded 5-hour road trip to Del Mar Racetrack for an exciting 2 days of racing!
Thanksgiving weekend at Del Mar marked the end of the Bing Crosby Season. This was the track’s first fall racing season in almost 50 years. The 15-day meet replaced dates that were previously run at the iconic Hollywood Race Track, which unfortunately closed down last December. Being a huge California Chrome fan I was also not going to miss his turf debut in the Hollywood Derby on Saturday!
The ambience of Southern California is hard to resist, especially at the racetrack.
The paddock area
Such a magical place
It was a nice crowd for Friday, being it was the day after Thanksgiving. With 8 races on the card the highlight of the afternoon was the 7th race. The 37th Running of the $250,000 Seabiscuit Handicap-G2. Tom's Tribute was the 3-2 favorite with a field of eight.
4-year old Kaigun guided by Corey Nakatani was last entering the stretch as he angled the widest of all to rally to the finish line. #4 Kaigun, still out of sight.
#6 Kaigun still trailing from behind. #10 Big Bane Theory and the beautiful roan horse #2 Za Approval.
Rallying to the finish line, Kaigun and Za Approval are nose to nose with #8 Tom's Tribute right behind them. Za Approval is so beautiful. He looks like he jumped out of a Harliquin romance novel.
Sent off as the 3-1 second choice, #6 Kaigun hit the front in deep stretch and prevailed by three-quarters of a length from #2 Za Approval, with #8 Tom's Tribute coming in third.
Winner Kaigun and jockey Corey Nakatani!
We got to the track at 8:00am early Saturday morning to have breakfast at Day Break at Del Mar. We had some breakfast, enjoyed a mimosa, and watched the horses train in the morning. There was a gentleman with a microphone providing information on the horses and riders that were running by. Despite the chilly weather, it was a nice way to to start our day at the races!
The first graded stakes race on the card for Saturday was Race 3, The 36th Running of the $200,000, Native Diver Handicap-G3 with a talented field of 7. Last year's winner #7 Blueskiesnrainbows was looking for a repeat win, but this time at Del Mar. With a trio of speedsters, defending Native Diver winner was out fought for the lead by #1 Big Cazanova. #4 Fleet Eagle was also up with the pace.
Guided by jockey Elvis Trujillo, #1 Big Cazanova showed his love for Del Mar's synthetic oval. The 2-1 favorite was already 2-2 at this course and currently holds the track record for the 1 1/8 -mile distance track record of 1:48.85, which he set in an allowance/optional claiming race on August 28.
With his front-running style, he romped the field in a 3 1/4 victory. #3 Blue Tone and jockey Kent Desormeaux finished second by 4/ 1/4 lengths over #5 Avanzare and jockey Gary Stevens.
"He broke slow for me and I had to send him, but he's such a good horse I had confidence all the way." Trujillo said.
The 6th race of the day was The 23rd Running of the $150,000 Jimmy Durante-G3. Named after Jimmy Durante, who was a regular patron at Del Mar. He was among American's most familiar and popular personalities of the 1920s through the 1970s. Known for his prominent nose, a nose to the finish line would only be appropriate. A field of eleven strong 2-year old fillies, #2 Rainha De Bateria was the class of the field as the only 2-year old winning a graded stakes race.
Unfortunately, the favorite #2 Rainha De Bateria circled the pack going wide under jockey Mike Smith, which most likely cost her the race. Squeezing through a tight opening along the rail in mid-stretch, the long-shot #4 Ol' Fashion Gal rallied to the finish line alongside the favorite and was victorious by a neck at the wire!
She paid a whopping $45.60 to win, while #2 Rainha De Bateria came in second, and #10 Don't Blame Me came in third.
"She loves the turf," said Talamo, who has ridden Ol' Fashion Gal in all three of her races. "You can see that. Since they switched her over, she's 2-for-2. She's getting better with each race. I had a perfect trip today. I got over (to the rail) and saved ground all the way. Then there was a little opening on the rail; not a big one, but just big enough. She shot right through there."
As the hours went by, fans started filling the grandstands. Hundreds and thousands filled the track with a meet-high attendance of 21,889 race fans. It looked more like an opening Summer day at Del Mar; rather than closing weekend. Saturday was sure to attract the "Chromies" as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness winner and the pride of California was to test a new surface; at a high level for the very first time. The G1 Hollywood Derby was indeed unfamiliar waters for this talented colt. Race 8 was the spot light on Saturday and the 3-year old champ was to face a field of 5 other horses to include the talented 3-year old filly Lexi Lou, winner of the Queen's Plate at Woodbine.
"I got to tell you, I think our filly is pretty tough." Trainer Mark Casse said, "She hasn't beaten California Chrome, but she has beaten the boys before. Actually, I think it's kind of intriguing"
Fans gathered at the paddock area to get a glimpse of the field for the 73rd Running of the Hollywood Derby-G1. The excitement and energy spread quickly as fans cheered for California Chrome.
#5 California Chrome broke sharply and went right to the lead.
"He came out of there like a rocket, I just let him settle down, and he went on from there" said jockey Victor Espinoza.
"I got away a little slow, but Sawyer's Hill wanted to go," jockey Rafael Bejarano said. "I was surprised that California Chrome broke so fast and went away from there so quickly. I let my horse go by him hoping he would relax after we went to the front, but he just wanted to go. No excuses, though. The winner was the best."
The crowd cheered, and roared for California Chrome. I took a quick shot of California Chrome's co-owners Steve & Carolyn Coburn surrounded by a crowd of cheering fans.
Can you feel the excitement?
#2 filly Lexi Lou with jockey Corey Nakatani trying to catch #5 California Chrome. #1 Talco, with jockey Drayden Van Dyke stalking the pace.
"When I asked him, he opened up three or four lengths in no time," said Espinoza. "He's Back."
"That kick at the end, that acceleration," Espinoza said. "It was just like when he won the Kentucky Derby."
A very happy Victor Espinoza aboard "America's Horse" California Chrome!
An amazing journey for California Chrome's connections.
2014 Hollywood Derby winner, California Chrome!
The journey for California Chrome continues. With a turf win on his resume it will give Trainer Art Sherman a lot more options for Chrome's 4-year old campaign in 2015. This win should solidify the honors for the top 3-year old in the country; as well as a shot for Horse of the Year honors. I can't think of any 3-year old with a more impressive resume than this champ!
-He is the only 3-year old colt** in the country with four Grade 1 wins
-He has won his graded wins at four different tracks: Santa Anita,Del Mar,Churchill, and Pimlico
-As a 3-year old he has won on two different surfaces which shows his versatility: Dirt, Turf and not to mention as a 2-year old, he also won on the Poly in the King Glorious at Betfair Hollywood last December