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Prior to the win of California Chrome in 2014, only three California-bred horses had previously won the [[Kentucky Derby]]: [[Morvich]] in 1922, Swaps in 1955, and [[Decidedly]] in 1962.<ref name=ArringtonApr4SacBee/> Besides Swaps,<ref name=Hoppert27Apr>{{cite web|last=Hoppert|first=Melissa|title=Two Horses, 59 Years Apart, Inspire One Trainer Art Sherman Ties the Kentucky Derby Favorite, California Chrome, to a Past Winner|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/28/sports/art-sherman-ties-the-kentucky-derby-favorite-california-chrome-to-a-past-winner.html|work=New York Times|accessdate=2014-05-01|date=2014-04-27}}</ref> the only other horses who won both the Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby were [[I'll Have Another]], [[Sunday Silence]], [[Winning Colors (horse)|Winning Colors]], [[Affirmed]],<ref name=Chairusmi>{{cite web|last=Chairusmi|first=Jim|title=Wicked Strong, California Chrome Triumph Ahead of Derby|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2014/04/05/wicked-strong-california-chrome-triumph-ahead-of-derby/|work=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2014-04-16|date=2014-04-05}}</ref> and [[Majestic Prince]].<ref name=Ehalt5May>{{cite web|last=Ehalt|first=Bob|title=Majestic Prince: A Colt Who Lived Up to His Name|url=http://www.americasbestracing.net/en/the-latest/blogs/2014/5/5/majestic-prince-lived-up-to-his-name/|publisher=America's Best Racing|accessdate=2014-05-05|date=20140-05-05}}</ref>
Prior to the win of California Chrome in 2014, only three California-bred horses had previously won the [[Kentucky Derby]]: [[Morvich]] in 1922, Swaps in 1955, and [[Decidedly]] in 1962.<ref name=ArringtonApr4SacBee/> Besides Swaps,<ref name=Hoppert27Apr>{{cite web|last=Hoppert|first=Melissa|title=Two Horses, 59 Years Apart, Inspire One Trainer Art Sherman Ties the Kentucky Derby Favorite, California Chrome, to a Past Winner|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/28/sports/art-sherman-ties-the-kentucky-derby-favorite-california-chrome-to-a-past-winner.html|work=New York Times|accessdate=2014-05-01|date=2014-04-27}}</ref> the only other horses who won both the Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby were [[I'll Have Another]], [[Sunday Silence]], [[Winning Colors (horse)|Winning Colors]], [[Affirmed]],<ref name=Chairusmi>{{cite web|last=Chairusmi|first=Jim|title=Wicked Strong, California Chrome Triumph Ahead of Derby|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/dailyfix/2014/04/05/wicked-strong-california-chrome-triumph-ahead-of-derby/|work=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2014-04-16|date=2014-04-05}}</ref> and [[Majestic Prince]].<ref name=Ehalt5May>{{cite web|last=Ehalt|first=Bob|title=Majestic Prince: A Colt Who Lived Up to His Name|url=http://www.americasbestracing.net/en/the-latest/blogs/2014/5/5/majestic-prince-lived-up-to-his-name/|publisher=America's Best Racing|accessdate=2014-05-05|date=20140-05-05}}</ref>


California Chrome was foaled February 18, 2011,<ref name=equibase/> at Harris Farms in [[Coalinga, California]], the [[horse breeding]] division of the [[Harris Ranch]].<ref name=ArringtonApr4SacBee/> He is a chestnut with four white [[horse markings#leg markings|stockings]] and a [[horse markings#face markings|blaze]].<ref name=Rees5April2014/> His sire is a son of [[Pulpit (horse)|Pulpit]] named [[Lucky Pulpit]],<ref name=HarrisStallions>{{cite web|last=Staff|title=Harris Farms 2014 Stallions|url=http://www.harrisfarms.com/index.php/stallions|publisher=Harris Farms|accessdate=2014-04-08}}</ref> who was a [[stakes race|stakes]] winner and placed in several [[graded stakes race]]s, including a second place finish in the [[Santa Catalina Stakes]].<ref name=LuckyPulpit>{{cite web|title=Lucky Pulpit |url=http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=6093927&registry=T|publisher=Equibase|accessdate=2014-04-08}}</ref> California Chrome's [[Glossary of equestrian terms#D|dam]] is Love the Chase, and California Chrome is her first [[foal]].<ref name=ArringtonApr6>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84253/california-chrome-ready-to-crunch-ky-derby |author=Arrington, Debbie |title=California Chrome Ready to Crunch KY Derby |work=Blood-Horse |publisher=BloodHorse.com |date=2014-04-06 |accessdate=2014-04-08}}</ref> As a two- and three-year-old [[filly]], she ran six times and won one race.<ref name=Chase/>
California Chrome was foaled February 18, 2011,<ref name=equibase/> at Harris Farms in [[Coalinga, California]], the [[horse breeding]] division of the [[Harris Ranch]].<ref name=ArringtonApr4SacBee/> He is a chestnut with four white [[horse markings#leg markings|stocks]] and a [[horse markings#face markings|blaze]].<ref name=Rees5April2014/> His sire is a son of [[Pulpit (horse)|Pulpit]] named [[Lucky Pulpit]],<ref name=HarrisStallions>{{cite web|last=Staff|title=Harris Farms 2014 Stallions|url=http://www.harrisfarms.com/index.php/stallions|publisher=Harris Farms|accessdate=2014-04-08}}</ref> who was a [[stakes race|stakes]] winner and placed in several [[graded stakes race]]s, including a second place finish in the [[Santa Catalina Stakes]].<ref name=LuckyPulpit>{{cite web|title=Lucky Pulpit |url=http://www.equibase.com/profiles/Results.cfm?type=Horse&refno=6093927&registry=T|publisher=Equibase|accessdate=2014-04-08}}</ref> California Chrome's [[Glossary of equestrian terms#D|dam]] is Love the Chase, and California Chrome is her first [[foal]].<ref name=ArringtonApr6>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/84253/california-chrome-ready-to-crunch-ky-derby |author=Arrington, Debbie |title=California Chrome Ready to Crunch KY Derby |work=Blood-Horse |publisher=BloodHorse.com |date=2014-04-06 |accessdate=2014-04-08}}</ref> As a two- and three-year-old [[filly]], she ran six times and won one race.<ref name=Chase/>


California Chrome is owned by Perry Martin of [[Yuba City, California]] and Steve Coburn of [[Topaz Lake, Nevada]]. Their wives, Denise Martin and Carolyn Coburn, are closely involved with the partnership, though they do not appear as owners on official records kept by [[Equibase]].<ref name=equibase/><ref name=ArringtonApr6/> Martin and Coburn own Love the Chase and thus are the breeders of California Chrome.<ref name=equibase/> The Martins <!--need source for wives' ownership because equibase says just Perry Martine-->own a 70% share in the horse and are the managing owners.<ref name=Angeli/> Coburn, is acknowledged by the media as the more "loquacious" of the two men,<ref name=Layden4May>{{cite web|last=Layden|first=Tim|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/news/20140504/kentucky-derby-california-chrome/|title=The victory of California Chrome and the magic of the Derby| work=Sports Illustrated|accessdate=2014-05-06|date=2014-05-04}}</ref><ref name=Harris4May>{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Beth|title=California Chrome, trainer Art Sherman gear up for Preakness after Derby win|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/may/4/california-chrome-trainer-art-sherman-gear-preakne/?page=all#pagebreak|work=Washington Times|accessdate=2014-05-05|date=2014-05-04}}</ref> describes himself as "just everyday people";<ref name=Angeli>{{cite web|last=Angeli|first=Burt|title=Kentucky Derby bound|url=http://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/545433/Kentucky-Derby-bound.html?nav=5006|work=Iron Mountain Daily News|accessdate=2014-04-20|date=2014-04-19}}</ref> he works as a press operator for a company that makes [[Magnetic stripe card|magnetic strips]].<ref name=Dwyre2014Apr8/> Carolyn Coburn retired in March 2014 from a career in payroll in the health care industry.<ref name=Zieralski2Apr2014>{{cite web|author=Zieralski, Ed |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/Apr/02/horse-racing-california-chrome-kentucky-derby/ |title=California Chrome has the shine of a Derby champ |publisher=UTSanDiego.com |date=2014-04-02 |accessdate=2014-04-16}}</ref>
California Chrome is owned by Perry Martin of [[Yuba City, California]] and Steve Coburn of [[Topaz Lake, Nevada]]. Their wives, Denise Martin and Carolyn Coburn, are closely involved with the partnership, though they do not appear as owners on official records kept by [[Equibase]].<ref name=equibase/><ref name=ArringtonApr6/> Martin and Coburn own Love the Chase and thus are the breeders of California Chrome.<ref name=equibase/> The Martins <!--need source for wives' ownership because equibase says just Perry Martine-->own a 70% share in the horse and are the managing owners.<ref name=Angeli/> Coburn, is acknowledged by the media as the more "loquacious" of the two men,<ref name=Layden4May>{{cite web|last=Layden|first=Tim|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/news/20140504/kentucky-derby-california-chrome/|title=The victory of California Chrome and the magic of the Derby| work=Sports Illustrated|accessdate=2014-05-06|date=2014-05-04}}</ref><ref name=Harris4May>{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Beth|title=California Chrome, trainer Art Sherman gear up for Preakness after Derby win|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/may/4/california-chrome-trainer-art-sherman-gear-preakne/?page=all#pagebreak|work=Washington Times|accessdate=2014-05-05|date=2014-05-04}}</ref> describes himself as "just everyday people";<ref name=Angeli>{{cite web|last=Angeli|first=Burt|title=Kentucky Derby bound|url=http://www.ironmountaindailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/545433/Kentucky-Derby-bound.html?nav=5006|work=Iron Mountain Daily News|accessdate=2014-04-20|date=2014-04-19}}</ref> he works as a press operator for a company that makes [[Magnetic stripe card|magnetic strips]].<ref name=Dwyre2014Apr8/> Carolyn Coburn retired in March 2014 from a career in payroll in the health care industry.<ref name=Zieralski2Apr2014>{{cite web|author=Zieralski, Ed |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/Apr/02/horse-racing-california-chrome-kentucky-derby/ |title=California Chrome has the shine of a Derby champ |publisher=UTSanDiego.com |date=2014-04-02 |accessdate=2014-04-16}}</ref>

Revision as of 05:05, 8 May 2014

California Chrome
California Chrome at the 2014 Kentucky Derby
SireLucky Pulpit
GrandsirePulpit
DamLove the Chase
DamsireNot For Love
SexColt
FoaledFebruary 18, 2011
CountryUnited States
ColorChestnut
BreederPerry Martin & Steve Coburn
OwnerPerry Martin & Steve Coburn
Racing colorsPurple, Green, Jackass on Back, Green Cap.[1]
TrainerArt Sherman
Record11:7-1-0[2]
EarningsUS$ 2,577,650[2]
Major wins
Graded stakes wins

Triple Crown classic race wins:
Kentucky Derby (2014)

Last updated on May 4, 2014

California Chrome (foaled February 18, 2011) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse bred in California. He won the 2014 Kentucky Derby, following a win in the Santa Anita Derby and the San Felipe Stakes. Trained by the father-son team of Art Sherman and Alan Sherman, the colt was the first horse they entered in the Kentucky Derby, though as a young man, the elder Sherman was the exercise rider for the 1955 Kentucky Derby winner Swaps, another California-bred horse to have previously won the Kentucky Derby. California Chrome's owners are Perry and Denise Martin from Yuba City, California and Steve and Carolyn Coburn of Topaz Lake, Nevada. They call their racing stable DAP Racing.

A grandson of Pulpit, the chestnut-colored horse was named for his flashy white markings, called "chrome" in the world of horse aficionados. California Chrome was a large foal at birth and was the first foal of his dam, Love The Chase. He was nicknamed "Junior" in honor of his sire, Lucky Pulpit. He was sent to the Shermans' training stable as a two year old due to their good reputation for patiently developing young horses. The colt's first win was in his second race, but he had trouble winning consistently until he was paired with jockey Victor Espinoza for the King Glorious Stakes on December 22, 2013. He won that race and has been undefeated since. Prior to the Santa Anita Derby, his owners turned down an offer of $6 million for a 51% controlling interest that would have resulted in a change of trainer and crew. Arriving in Kentucky less than a week before the Derby, he was the morning line favorite even though analysists at Churchill Downs were critical of the colt, his trainer's strategy, and downplayed his chances of winning. However, he won by 1-3⁄4 lengths, even though he had been eased for the final 70 yards (64 m) in a ride by Espinoza that Art Sherman described as "perfect".

Background

Prior to the win of California Chrome in 2014, only three California-bred horses had previously won the Kentucky Derby: Morvich in 1922, Swaps in 1955, and Decidedly in 1962.[3] Besides Swaps,[4] the only other horses who won both the Santa Anita Derby and the Kentucky Derby were I'll Have Another, Sunday Silence, Winning Colors, Affirmed,[5] and Majestic Prince.[6]

California Chrome was foaled February 18, 2011,[2] at Harris Farms in Coalinga, California, the horse breeding division of the Harris Ranch.[3] He is a chestnut with four white stocks and a blaze.[7] His sire is a son of Pulpit named Lucky Pulpit,[8] who was a stakes winner and placed in several graded stakes races, including a second place finish in the Santa Catalina Stakes.[9] California Chrome's dam is Love the Chase, and California Chrome is her first foal.[10] As a two- and three-year-old filly, she ran six times and won one race.[11]

California Chrome is owned by Perry Martin of Yuba City, California and Steve Coburn of Topaz Lake, Nevada. Their wives, Denise Martin and Carolyn Coburn, are closely involved with the partnership, though they do not appear as owners on official records kept by Equibase.[2][10] Martin and Coburn own Love the Chase and thus are the breeders of California Chrome.[2] The Martins own a 70% share in the horse and are the managing owners.[12] Coburn, is acknowledged by the media as the more "loquacious" of the two men,[13][14] describes himself as "just everyday people";[12] he works as a press operator for a company that makes magnetic strips.[15] Carolyn Coburn retired in March 2014 from a career in payroll in the health care industry.[16]

The Martins own and operate Martin Testing Laboratories (MTL), a division of Materials Technology Laboratories, Inc.[17] and located within McClellan Business Park, located at the former McClellan Air Force Base.[3] The company provides product assurance testing and reliability testing of new technologies and materials[16][17] such as automobile airbags or medical equipment. Perry Martin described the items MTL tests as “the kind where somebody dies if something goes wrong.”[18] Denise Martin is the company's senior chemist, managing the company's fatigue testing and thermal analytics.[19] Perry Martin performed testing and analysis work for the Air Force, briefing both Congress and the Air Force Chief of Staff on his work with Air Force weapons systems.[20] He wrote the Electronic Failure Analysis Handbook, published by McGraw-Hill in 1999.[21]

Originally, the two couples each owned a five percent share in Love the Chase through a horse ownership group called the Blinkers On Racing Stable.[10][11] When the Blinkers On Racing Stable interest in Love the Chase was dissolved, the Martins verbally agreed to purchase Love the Chase. Following her win at Golden Gate the filly's price increased. Although the Martin's had purchased LTC they decided to form a partnership with the Coburns' giving Steven a 30% interest for $2400.00[3] Steve Coburn and Perry Martin became her official owners after her first win, which was in her fourth race at Golden Gate Fields, and retired her in 2009.[11] They paid $8000 for her and hoped she would become a good broodmare.[10] When they bought Love the Chase, a casual observer remarked that only a "dumb ass" would buy her, and so Coburn and Martin decided to name their racing operation DAP Racing, which stands for "Dumb Ass Partners".[15] They created a caricature of a buck-toothed jackass to adorn the back of their racing silks and picked purple and green, the favorite colors of Carolyn Coburn and Denise Martin, respectively,[19] for their stable colors.[3] The initials "DAP" appear on California Chrome's blinker hood and the left front of the jockey's silks.[22]

Steve Coburn said he had a dream not long before the horse's birth that the foal would be a colt with four white feet and a blaze.[23] At birth, California Chrome was relatively large for a newborn horse, weighing 137 pounds (62 kg). His foalhood nickname was "Junior".[3] The Coburns and Martins chose his official name at a restaurant; they wrote several potential names on pieces of paper and asked a waitress to draw one out of a hat.[15] The word "chrome" in his name comes from slang for a horse with flashy white markings.[7] The colt was started under saddle by Harris Farms' trainer Per Antonsen, who said, "He was a really smart horse. He was really nice to work with."[24][25] The partnership dubbed California Chrome their "Derby horse" and placed the colt in race training with Art Sherman, who liked the enthusiasm of the owners.

The horse was the first Kentucky Derby prospect Sherman trained in his career, though not his first experience with the Derby: in 1955 at the age of 18,[15] Sherman worked for Rex Ellsworth,[26] and was the exercise rider for Swaps, who won the Kentucky Derby in 1955.[15] He went on to be a professional jockey for 21 years before becoming a race horse trainer in 1976.[4] Sherman's assistant is his son, Alan Sherman, age 45,[27] who is also a licensed trainer.[22] Martin and Coburn placed the horse with Sherman because of his "old school" reputation for patience with young horses and his small barn of about 15 horses, allowing the colt to be given individualized attention.[28] Sherman typically downplays his role and credits the horse, saying things like, "This horse is my California rock star. I'm just his manager."[29]

Unlike most high-end California Thoroughbred trainers, Sherman stables and works out of Los Alamitos Race Course,[15] which is better-known as a track for Quarter Horse racing and minor Thoroughbred claiming races. Sherman had stabled at Hollywood Park Racetrack, but when it closed in December 2013, Los Alamitos picked up some of the racing trainers who had stabled horses at the defunct track, including Sherman.[30] Los Alamitos also took over some of Hollywood Park's racing schedule, and will host all-Thoroughbred meets for the first time in 2014. Due to the impending arrival of major Thoroughbred races, the manager of the track was happy with the success of California Chrome and his ability to bring good publicity to their track, saying, "[b]y having Art's horse here, it jump-started our credibility."[7]

Racing history

Front
Back
Racing colors of DAP Racing

2013: Two-year-old season

California Chrome came in second by a length in his first start, which was at Hollywood Park Racetrack in April 2013, when he was two years old.[31] Three weeks later, he won his second race by 2-3/4 lengths.[32] In both races he was ridden by Alberto Delgado. His next race was less than a month later when he was entered in the Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes, where he was one of the four horses given the highest impost assigned in the race, 120 pounds (54 kg), and had a jockey change, to Corey Nakatani. He fought for the lead in the first three furlongs, but then weakened and finished fifth in a field of nine.[33] Given a six-week break from competition and moving to Del Mar racetrack for his next two races with Delgado back as his rider,[34] he won the Graduation Stakes, a race limited to California-bred horses,[35] by a solid 2-3/4 lengths. While he once again was assigned 120 pounds (54 kg), he wore blinkers for the first time and also ran on the medication Lasix for the first time in his career.[34] The next time out he ran a longer, seven-furlong race, was assigned 122 pounds (55 kg) and though he ran strongly, he got caught in traffic in a large field of 11 horses, and finished sixth. This was his first graded stakes race, the Grade I Del Mar Futurity.[36] He was given almost two months before he ran again, in the Golden State Juvenile Stakes on November 1 at Santa Anita Park. This race was on the undercard for the Breeders' Cup,[37] and at one mile, was the longest race he had ever run. He carried 121 pounds (55 kg), he had a bad start from the number 1 post position, was last out of the gate, struggled throughout the race and faded to sixth at the end.[38] Sherman viewed his "rough trips" simply as evidence that he was still growing and learning how to be a race horse.[35]

The fortunes of Sherman and California Chrome changed for the better when he returned to Hollywood Park for his final race of the year, the King Glorious Stakes on December 22. Carrying 119 pounds (54 kg), back to running seven furlongs and with a new rider, Victor Espinoza,[39] who won the 2002 Kentucky Derby on War Emblem,[40] he won by a decisive 6-1/4 lengths.[39] He was, coincidentally, the final stakes winner at Hollywood Park Racetrack, which held its final races that day and then closed permanently.[41] Sherman was impressed with the way Espinoza rode the colt, and Espinoza was impressed with the colt, saying to the trainer, "Please put me on more of those."[35] Alan Sherman later said that it was after this race that he first began to think that California Chrome could be a Kentucky Derby contender.[42]

2014: Three-year-old season

California Chrome at the 2014 San Felipe Stakes with Victor Espinoza up, groom Raul Rodriquez leading the horse, and assistant trainer Alan Sherman at right

California Chrome began his 2014 season with the California Cup Derby on January 25. Espinoza returned as his jockey, and the horse went off as the second favorite and carried 124 pounds (56 kg), the same impost as the favorite. California Chrome was slow coming out of the gate, but quickly moved up to third place, then took the lead coming into the homestretch and won easily by 5-1/2 lengths.[43] Sherman noted that it was the second race in a row where the horse pulled clear and won by a decisive margin, stating, "It's like the light bulb has gone on."[44]

His first graded stakes win came in his next race, the March 8 Grade II San Felipe Stakes. The race was over the same distance as his previous race, but he was dropped down to 118 pounds (54 kg) in spite of being the favorite.[45] Espinoza tried a different riding tactic and simply let him go to the lead right out of the gate.[46] As a result, California Chrome led wire to wire, and after Espinoza gave him a tap on the shoulder with the whip, the horse pulled away from the field at the top of the homestretch and won by 7-1/2 lengths with only mild urging by his rider.[45] This was also his first win in a race open at all three-year-olds and earned him 50 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby system, making him a viable contender for the Kentucky Derby.[46] Alan Sherman said, "my jaw dropped",[47] and Espinoza explained in an interview, "I wanted to try something new today, so I let him go right out of the gate. I don't know if people expected me to go right to the lead, but I wanted to let him enjoy his race."[48]

His first Grade I win was the Santa Anita Derby on April 8.[49] Prior to the race, Martin turned down a $6 million offer for a 51% controlling interest in the colt that would have included putting the horse with a different trainer.[40] In the Santa Anita Derby, California Chrome was, once again, slow out of the gate and then was briefly caught between two horses, but once clear, he moved up to first by the quarter pole and went on to win the $1 million race by 5-1/4 lengths, again with minimal urging.[49] He defeated Rebel Stakes winner Hoppertunity,[50] who came in second, and another 3-1/2 lengths back in third was another potential Kentucky Derby contender, Candy Boy.[49] His time of 1:47.52 [22] earned him a Beyer Speed Figure of 107, which was the fastest speed figure in any of the final prep races for 2014.[51] It was also the fourth fastest time in the history of the Santa Anita Derby; the only horses to have run faster were Lucky Debonair, Sham, and Indian Charlie.[52]

California Chrome's decisive win made him an early favorite to win the 2014 Kentucky Derby and raised speculation that he had the talent to win the Triple Crown.[53] After the Santa Anita Derby win, Sherman began to describe the colt as "my Swaps".[15]

Kentucky Derby

Prior to the 2014 Kentucky Derby, Bob Baffert, trainer of Hoppertunity, compared California Chrome to War Emblem, and commented, "As long as he breaks and he's in the clear...he just keeps going."[54] Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who had no horses entered in the 2014 Derby, told a reporter that he intended to bet on the horse and commented, "He’s looked like the real deal...I like everything about him."[55]

Espinoza celebrates winning the Derby on California Chrome, Commanding Curve second, Danza third

The colt shipped to Churchill Downs on April 28, 2014, one of the last four Derby horses to arrive. He was flown in from California, his first time on a plane, and traveled quietly. Once the plane landed, however, he refused to unload until he was turned around and backed down the ramp; Alan Sherman explained later that this was his typical way of unloading from ground-based transportation as well.[56] Though critics commented that bringing the horse in late and not giving him a full workout on the track was a mistake,[57] Sherman's strategy was backed by Lukas, who said "working over the racetrack is way overrated."[55] There was also criticism that the colt had never raced outside California, countered by reporters who noted that the same was true of Derby winners Silver Charm and Giacomo.[58] To become accustomed to the track, the horse jogged on the track with his regular exercise rider, Willy Delgado, the day after he arrived, where he had to adjust to a three-hour change in time zone, but was strong and energetic.[59] He galloped on the track beginning on Wednesday of Derby week,[60] and on Thursday schooled in the saddling paddock and the gate.[59]

His connections drew post position 5 for the race, and he was the morning line favorite, at odds of 5-2.[61] Though reporters noted the spot, relatively close to the inside rail, could be a problem owing to the "speed horses" that surrounded him on both sides,[13] combined with colt's past tendency to be slow out of the gate,[62][63] Espinoza pointed out that he won the Kentucky Derby on War Emblem from the same post position.[64]

In the race, California Chrome had a clean start and could have taken the lead from the outset, but Espinoza chose to keep him behind two speed horses and only moved him to the front at the final turn when other horses began to tire. In the homestretch, he opened up a lead of five lengths, but then Espinoza eased California Chrome the last 70 yards of the race,[13] making his winning margin only 1-3/4 lengths.[65] Sherman later explained that Espinoza was "saving something for the next one"; a reference to the probable start of the horse in the 2014 Preakness Stakes, following just two weeks later.[14] The winning time of 2:03.66 was relatively slow for a Kentucky Derby,[13] but Sherman described Espinoza's ride as "perfect."[66] the win was Espinoza's second victory and 77-year-old Sherman became the oldest trainer to ever win the Kentucky Derby.[67] Previously, Charlie Whittingham held the record when at age 76 he trained Sunday Silence to win the 1989 Kentucky Derby.[68]

Preakness Stakes

California Chrome remained stabled at Churchill Downs following the Derby. As of 7 May 2014, Sherman plans to ship California Chrome to Pimlico Race Course on Monday, May 12 in preparation for the 2014 Preakness Stakes.[69]

Statistics

Date Age Distance * Race Grade Track Odds Time Field Finish Margin Jockey Trainer Owner Ref
Apr 26, 2013 2 4-1/2 furlongs Maiden Special Weight Maiden Hollywood Park Racetrack 6.90 52:47 9 2 1 length Alberto Delgado Art Sherman Martin & Coburn [31]
May 17, 2013 2 4-1/2 furlongs Maiden Special Weight Maiden Hollywood Park Racetrack 1.20 52:42 9 1 2-3/4 lengths Alberto Delgado Art Sherman Martin & Coburn [32]
June 15, 2013 2 5-1/2 furlongs Willard L. Proctor Memorial Stakes Listed Stakes Hollywood Park Racetrack 5.10 NA 9 5 NA Corey Nakatani Art Sherman Martin & Coburn [33]
Jul 31, 2013 2 5-1/2 furlongs Graduation Stakes Listed Stakes Del Mar racetrack 6.20 1:03:48 7 1 2-3/4 lengths Alberto Delgado Art Sherman Martin & Coburn [34]
Sep 4, 2013 2 7 furlongs Del Mar Futurity I Del Mar racetrack 5.70 NA 11 6 NA Alberto Delgado Art Sherman Martin & Coburn [36]
Nov 1, 2013 2 8 furlongs Golden State Juvenile Stakes Listed Stakes Santa Anita Park 3.2 NA 9 6 NA Alberto Delgado Art Sherman Martin & Coburn [38]
Dec 22, 2013 2 7 furlongs King Glorious Stakes Listed Stakes Hollywood Park Racetrack 2.20 1:22:12 10 1 6-1/4 lengths Victor Espinoza Art Sherman Martin & Coburn [39]
Jan 25, 2014 3 8.5 furlongs California Cup Derby Listed Stakes Santa Anita Park 2.50 1:43:22 10 1 5-1/2 lengths Victor Espinoza Art Sherman Martin & Coburn [43]
Mar 8, 2014 3 8.5 furlongs San Felipe Stakes II Santa Anita Park 1.40 1:40:59 7 1 7-1/2 lengths Victor Espinoza Art Sherman Martin & Coburn [45]
Apr 5, 2014 3 9 furlongs Santa Anita Derby I Santa Anita Park 0.70 1:47:52 8 1 5-1/4 lengths Victor Espinoza Art Sherman Martin & Coburn [49]
May 3, 2014 3 10 furlongs Kentucky Derby I Churchill Downs 2.50 2:03.66 19 1 1-3/4 lengths Victor Espinoza Art Sherman Martin & Coburn [65]
May 17, 2014 3 9.5 furlongs Preakness Stakes I Pimlico Race Course Victor Espinoza Art Sherman Martin & Coburn
* Conversion of race distances
furlongs miles meters
4.5 furlongs 9⁄16 mile 905 meters
5.5 furlongs 11⁄16 mile 1,106 meters
7 furlongs 1 mile 1,408 meters
8 furlongs 1 mile 1,609 meters
8.5 furlongs 1+1⁄16 miles 1,710 meters
9 furlongs 1+1⁄8 miles 1,810.5 meters
9.5 furlongs 1+3⁄16 miles 1,911 meters
10 furlongs 1+1⁄4 miles 2,012 meters
12 furlongs 1+1⁄2 miles 2,414 meters

Pedigree

California Chrome's sire, Lucky Pulpit, and his dam, Love the Chase, both raced primarily over short distances and had relatively undistinguished racing careers. However, many of their ancestors were successful on the track, and there are horses well-known for stamina several generations back in his pedigree. Lucky Pulpit was a stakes winner and as of 2014 had sired two other stakes winners in addition to California Chrome.[1]

Love the Chase had several successful horses in her pedigree, particularly in her maternal line. Her granddam Chase the Dream was sired by the 1968 Epsom Derby winner Sir Ivor, and her dam line goes to La Troienne. Vaguely Noble, winner of the 1968 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, also appears in her pedigree. Love the Chase also has two crosses to the mare Numbered Account, who produced several Grade I stakes winners and was American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in 1971. Numbered Account was a daughter of Buckpasser, and also appears in the pedigree of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver.[1]

California Chrome has relatively little inbreeding; he is 3 x 4 to Mr Prospector, meaning that this stallion appears once in the third and once in the fourth generations of his pedigree. He is also 4 x 4 to Numbered Account and 4 x 5 to Northern Dancer.[70]

Pedigree of California Chrome, chestnut colt, 2011[70]
Sire
Lucky Pulpit (USA)
2001 		Pulpit (USA)
1994 		A.P. Indy Seattle Slew
Weekend Surprise
Preach Mr Prospector
Narrate
Lucky Soph (USA)
1992 		Cozzene Caro
Ride The Trails
Lucky Spell Lucky Mel
Incantation
Dam
Love The Chase (USA)
2006 		Not For Love (USA)
1993 		Mr Prospector Raise A Native
Gold Digger
Dance Number Northern Dancer
Numbered Account
Chase It Down (USA)
1992 		Polish Numbers Danzig
Numbered Account
Chase The Dream Sir Ivor
La Belle Fleur (Family A4)

References

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Sources

Wikimedia Commons has media related to California Chrome.
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