California Chrome sensational in Dubai World Cup victory
Bigger, stronger, and faster, the 2014 Horse of the Year is officially better than ever. In a pure display of talent, athleticism, and class, California Chrome turned the world’s richest race into a one-horse show tonight at Meydan. A runner-up in the Dubai World Cup last year, California Chrome left no doubt as to who was best this year, and in so doing, he became North America’s all-time leading money winner by running away with the $10-million-dollar race by three convincing lengths.
Running wide from his outside post position, the former winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness always looked comfortable stalking the early pace set down by another American runner, Mshawish. There he would stay, close and poised to pounce just off moderate early fractions, and on the outside. Once the real running began turning into the long Dubai World Cup stretch, the California-bred champion gave jockey Victor Espinoza everything he wanted, and quickly accelerated to the lead. Last year’s UAE Derby winner, Mubtaahij, who had come through an opening on the rail tried to go with California Chrome, but it was to no avail. Despite his saddle slipping beneath him, Espinoza cruised to the wire aboard the much the best winner, with Mubtaahij a clear second best.
Hoppertunity made a wide, late run to get up for third for trainer Bob Baffert, just ahead of Special Fighter. Frosted, the clear second choice, did not seem to have his best today, and could do no better than fifth place, just ahead of a tiring Mshawish.
With the victory, California Chrome raised his remarkable record to 21-12-3-1, with $12,532,650 in lifetime earnings. That's a total that easily eclipses that of the former American record holder, Curlin, who amassed earnings of $10,501,800 nearly a decade ago. Who would have thought the son of Lucky Pulpit would have accomplished all this from where he was last summer?
After a difficult stretch attempting to prepare for a race in England, California Chrome returned to America in 2015 a skinny and sore horse. Nursed back to health at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky, he finally was ready to run this year after a 9 ½ month layoff from the races following his second place finish in the World Cup last year. California Chrome has come back in absolutely sensational form. In fact, he has looked better each time. First scoring in California, he was best in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes in January. He then made Meydan his temporary home for the past few months. The five-year-old chestnut dominated a handicap race while giving away gobs of weight to his competition in his first Dubai run of 2016. But tonight’s event was the big one, and in kind, California Chrome turned in the finest performance of his career.
Final time for the about ten furlongs was a solid 2:01.83. As the clear choice in U.S. wagering, California Chrome returned $4.40 for the win, but the exacta over Mubtaahij was nothing to sneeze at, returning an even $67.00
Tonight’s win in Dubai was a popular victory on many fronts. As a true rags to riches story, California Chrome is only building new layers on his status as one of the most popular horses of the 21st century. For the Triple Crown and Dubai World Cup winning rider, Victor Espinoza, one of the nice guys of the sport, he is proving that a rider is still very much in his prime in their forties, and who cannot help being anything but happy for California Chrome’s octogenarian trainer, Art Sherman, who has waited his entire career as a trainer to have a horse like this. Another true gentleman who is deserving of everything good he gets.
What’s next for the American champion? California Chrome will be heading back to the States to clear quarantine, have a physical check-up, and then look towards some of the big races for older horses in California, like the Pacific Classic and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. After what we saw today, he looks like the horse to beat no matter where he may run.