California Chrome Wins Graduation Stakes

Rallying powerfully through the stretch, Coburn and Martin’s California Chrome drew off impressively to win Wednesday’s featured $100,000 Graduation Stakes for California-bred two-year-olds.

With Alberto Delgado in the saddle, California Chrome reached the finish almost three lengths in front of  Moving Desert, with Gangnam Guy another half-length back in third place in the field of seven juveniles. Better Bet was fourth, with lukewarm 3-1 favorite Solid Wager fifth. 

California Chrome, a son of Lucky Pulpit trained by Art Sherman, ran the 5 ½ furlongs in a swift 1:03.48 and returned $14.40, $7.40 and $5. It was the colt’s second success in four starts and worth $57,000 in first prize money.

Runner-up Moving Desert, the lone filly in the field,  paid $6.80 and $4.20, while Gangnam Guy returned $3.80 to show. Withdrawn from the line-up were Smoove and Testify Under Oath.

The Graduation Stakes is a steppingstone to the $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on closing day, Wednesday, September 4.

 With a carryover of $261,359 from Sunday and $1,492,488 bet Wednesday, the Pick Six pool was $1,753,847. There were three perfect tickets and each paid $352,891.

Attendance Wednesday was 11,998.