Belief outshines Chrome

ARCADIA, Calif. — The older horses did something that is difficult to do this time of year in thoroughbred racing — they upstaged the 3-yearolds.

But that’s what happened Saturday at Santa Anita Park, when 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome, last year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, squared off with Shared Belief, a gelding who missed the Triple Crown Series last year because of injury but entered Saturday with one loss in nine career starts.

The end result: Shared Belief beat California Chrome by 11/ lengths in front of 21,522 fans, many drawn to see California Chrome, on a rainy Saturday in February.

Shared Belief, ridden by Mike Smith, ran 11/ miles in 1:48.45 and paid $4, $2.40 and $2.10 as the even-money favorite.

California Chrome, the 7-5 second choice, finished 6½ lengths ahead of Bob Baffert-trained Hoppertunity, the 2014 Rebel Stakes winner at Oaklawn Park.

Shared Belief is co-owned by sports talk host Jim Rome and Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The colt’s only defeat came in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, the same race in which California Chrome finished third.

Shared Belief’s connections won $300,000 as the gelding’s career earnings reached $2,332,200, with nine victories in 10 starts.

Art Sherman, who trains California Chrome, said it’s still possible the colt will head to the Dubai World Cup next month. But he anticipates meeting Shared Belief again.

“We are looking forward to a matchup down the line,” Sherman said. “Jerry’s horse is the real McCoy. My horse is very good too, we just got outrun. He didn’t give it up, he ran his eyeballs out.”