Mo Mosa puts California Chrome owner back on the Derby trail

Six years ago, Perry Martin headed into March campaigning a state-bred outrunning his pedigree at every step. The eventual 2014 Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome then blew away open company competition in Santa Anita Park’s San Felipe Stakes (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) to become the one to beat heading to Churchill Downs.

“This time is completely different,” said Martin, who along with his wife Denise is set to send out another homebred in the owner's comeback to the Kentucky Derby trail.

Mo Mosa, a Mike Maker-trained son of Uncle Mo, enter Saturday’s Tampa Bay Derby (G2) with a lower set of expectations than Chrome. The bay colt has raced just three times, stretching from one turn to two last out to break his maiden on Feb. 13 at Turfway Park.

“With Chrome, we started him in April of his 2-year-old year and worked out troublesome issues over a long period of time,” Martin said. “This time we got a late December start and need everything to come together quickly. Fingers crossed.”

California Chrome had raced eight times heading into the San Felipe. Of course, he won that, the Santa Anita Derby, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and a host of other major races during a career in which he was twice named Horse of the Year.

Mo Mosa offers more traditionally favored bloodlines, though the Martins weren't about to let go of him in the sales ring when he drew a high bid of $335,000 as a yearling. That didn't meet their reserve, and it was slow to the races with Mo Mosa waiting out some shin issues.

Knowing he'd be better going longer, connections were then fine to see finishes of second and third sprinting in Mo Mosa's first two showings.

“His last start going a mile was much better, even though he didn't change leads until after the sixteenth pole,” Martin said. “Once he did, though, wow — opened up by five (lengths) quickly. He is improving, and we hope that will continue and he will be competitive in Tampa Bay.”

Mo Mosa will go off at a price against the likes of Sam F. Davis (G3) winner Sole Volante and Chance It, a top Florida-bred stakes winner. Todd Pletcher is also expected to be represented by some promising maiden winners in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby.

The Martins will watch from afar. Since California Chrome’s racing days, they’ve relocated to Wyoming, and the couple teamed up with Maker knowing they’d be sending plenty of mares to breed with California Chrome as he stood at Taylor Made Stallions. Those horses will grow up in Kentucky and figure to race there in Maker’s care.

“Mike seems to have a lot of quality horses in the mix in Kentucky, and that does not happen by accident,” Martin said. “Mike has been very good to work with, and we have a lot of confidence in him.”

(From 2015, a visit with California Chrome.)

Before Mo Mosa came along, the Martins were thinking Faversham, their full 2015 brother to California Chrome, may get them back into the preps. A torn tendon at age 2, however, wound up limiting his capabilities.

By Lucky Pulpit and out of the mare Love the Chase, Faversham won twice, most recently on Dec. 13 once transferred from Art Sherman to the Maker barn. He has since retired having re-injured the tendon and will stand at stud in California.

A number of other California Chrome relatives are on their way for the Martins this season as 2-year-old sons and daughters of the champion. You won’t, however, see them in the famous purple and green silks originally worn by Chrome; Martin said that after his partner Steve Coburn sold his shares in the horse, they’ve not seen each other since.

“I love the distinction between looks and ability,” Martin said, shifting gears to Chrome’s progeny. “I like to point out that the horse industry has an inefficient marketplace. When asked what this means, I'll point to Seattle Slew — Chrome’s great, great grandfather. Seattle Slew sold for $17,500 at Keeneland because he had a turned out right front foot, a feature Chrome shared.

“Seattle Slew won the Triple Crown and became a great sire of sires. I believe Chrome not only shared Slew's conformation and racing ability, but will also share his breeding legacy. Chrome's foals tend to favor the mare's characteristics on the outside. Once they have been racing a while, we'll see if they share Chrome's characteristics on the inside.”

While the partnership that stood California Chrome in Kentucky parted with him over the winter to Japanese interests, Martin said he maintains five lifetime breeding rights and will continue to send mares overseas. A “major goal” of his is to see one of those foals make it back to the U.S. via Japan’s Kentucky Derby trail.

Denise Martin continues to handle a steady stream of fan mail through the family's website, MartinRacing.us, years after California Chrome's career on track.

"Throughout California Chrome’s racing years, the people who came out to the races in person started to notice that he was noticing them," she said. "He would stop for a second and look directly at the individual of the moment. No threat. No challenge. Just an acknowledgement: I see you too! He made that personal real time connection with people.

"On a larger scale, Chrome connects with his fans because he rose up through the ranks based on his own merit and ability. With no benefit or financial backing, he gets up every morning, goes to work, and gets the job done. Win or lose. That’s life for most of us. It’s not really exciting most days. Every win is a precious commodity."