Texas Chrome brave up the rail for Oklahoma Derby win

Just 15 days after the most important win in his career in the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs, Texas Chrome came right back to score in another rich Derby. This time it was at Remington Park in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby. Not only was the turnaround time short, but so was the room on the rail. This detail proved no problem for Texas Chrome, as he bravely squeezed through for a hard-fought and game half-length victory over Sticksstatelydude.

Ridden by C.J. McMahon, Texas Chrome was sent off at 2-1 in the field of eleven, a slight second choice behind Fish Trappe Road. The bay colt stayed on the rail after breaking from the one-hole, where he found a stalking position there in the back of the leading pack. Meanwhile, Way Striking set a solid pace up front ticking off a :22.95 first quarter, followed by :47.25 for the half. Sticksstatelydude, the third betting choice, turned up the heat on his outside, and the two led a tight group into the far turn, with both of the favorites right there in striking distance.

Fish Trappe Road moved menacingly up into third on the outside, while Texas Chrome was full of horse, but in need of running room behind the top three. Unable to find a spot to split horses, the Keene Thoroughbreds’ runner moved back to the rail to chase Sticksstatelydude, who was now the leader. Outside the eighth pole it looked like any of the three favorites had a chance to win, but the race favorite was unable to continue his momentum.

Sticksstatelydude, ridden by Joel Rosario, maneuvered to shut off the rail, but Texas Chrome is a horse who clearly likes to win. Resolute while skimming the paint, he pushed even, and then edged away from his dogged rival. Fish Trappe Road was able to hold off a rallying Pass the Buck for third-place money

Trained by J.R. Caldwell, Texas Chrome stopped the timer for the nine furlongs over the fast main track at Remington Park in an excellent 1:48.94, which is less than one second off the stakes and track record of 1:48, set by Classic Cat back in 1998.

“He ran a really gutsy race in the Super Derby and came out of that phenomenal,” said Caldwell. “Some nice horses came in and we needed him to fire a big race, and he fired a big race. You can’t buy, or be a trainer to match what’s in that horse’s heart … gritty, huge heart, and willing to fight and dig in for big wins. That’s just the horse and what an incredible horse that he is.”

The victory raised the Texas-bred son of Grasshopper’s record to an impressive 13-8-1-3. A bargain $10,000 yearling purchase, Texas Chrome pushed his rapidly increasing earnings to a total of $842,462. The Oklahoma Derby was his seventh stakes win overall, and his third straight since finishing second to the highly regarded American Freedom in the Grade 3 Iowa Derby.

As the 2-1 second choice, Texas Chrome returned $6.60, $3.60, and $2.60 across the board. The exacta over the third choice, Sticksstatelydude, was good for $40.60, while the 1-5-7 trifecta, with Fish Trappe Road in third, paid $122.00.