Uncle Lino Leads All the Way in California Chrome Stakes
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Getting some class relief after three consecutive appearances in graded stakes, Uncle Lino led all the way to win the $151,035 California Chrome Stakes in record time Saturday at Los Alamitos.
Pressured throughout by 15-1 shot – and first-time gelding – Rare Candy, the 13-10 favorite held tenaciously under left-handed urging by jockey Fernando Perez to win by a half-length as the 13-10 favorite.
Owned by Tom Mansor, Purple Shamrock Racing and trainer Gary Sherlock, the 3-year-old son of Uncle Mo and the Orientate mare Haysee completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:40.82. The final time bettered the previous track record of 1:40.86 set by Dortmund in the Grade I Los Alamitos Futurity Dec. 20, 2014.
The win was the second in seven starts for Uncle Lino, who had finished second behind Mor Spirit in the Grade III Robert B. Lewis, fourth in the Grade II San Felipe behind Danzing Candy, Mor Spirit and Exaggerator and third in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby behind Exaggerator and Mor Spirit in his three races before Saturday.
“Somebody asked me if this horse should win today,’’ said Sherlock. “I said, ‘Well, the horses that have been beating him are running in the Kentucky Derby, so I think he’s got a pretty good chance.’’
A $52,000 purchase at the Keeneland September sale in 2004, Uncle Lino increased his earnings to $316,160 and paid $4.60, $3.20 and $3.
The Kentucky bred may also have earned himself a trip to Maryland and a start in the Preakness May 21 at Pimlico.
“It’s something we’ve talked about,’’ said Sherlock. “We’ll see how he comes out of this race. We get an extra week from the Kentucky Derby horses.’’
Perez, who escaped injury when involved in a two-horse spill in Thursday’s eighth race, said he was confident throughout the California Chrome.
“He came out running and was comfortable all the way around’’ he said. “My horse wasn’t going to let (Rare Candy) go by.’’
Rare Candy, whose lone win came last July 26 on the turf at Del Mar, finished 5 ¼ lengths in front of Touched by Autism, the longest shot in the field of eight a 71-1. Rare Candy paid $8.60 and $5.80 while the show price on Touched by Autism was $12.20.
Completing the order of finish were Mishegas, Dalmore, Curlin Rules, Malibu Sunset, the 19-10 second choice who had won his first two starts impressively, and Let’s Meet in Rio. One More Round was scratched.
Racing resumes Sunday at Los Alamitos. Post time for the final day of the Spring meet is 2 p.m. There will be an opportunity for on-track patrons to win one of eight High Definition televisions. Entry blanks will be available at all admission gates.
California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year and North America’s richest thoroughbred after his March 26 win in the $10-million Dubai World Cup, is scheduled to return Sunday afternoon to the Los Alamitos stable of trainer Art Sherman.
The 5-year-old son of Lucky Pulpit, whose stakes wins during his championship season included the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, has been at Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, Ky. since returning from the United Arab Emirates after his 3 ¾ length victory in the World Cup.
A winner of 12 of 21 with earnings of $12,532,650, California Chrome has been based primarily at Los Alamitos since the beginning of his 3-year-old campaign.
In a winner’s circle Saturday, Sherman presented Los Alamitos owner and president Dr. Edward Allred with the silks jockey Victor Espinoza wore when California Chrome won the Dubai World Cup. “It’s an honor to be stabled at Los Alamitos,’’ said Sherman.
Source: Los Alamitos Race Course
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