Upstart going to ‘California’
ARCADIA, Calif. — California Chrome stood out from the crowd at Santa Anita racetrack early yesterday morning while floating over the racing surface with effortless, ground-devouring strides as he galloped past the horses around him that appeared to be laboring in the imposing shadow of the strapping 2014 Kentucky Derby winner.
The striking Art Sherman-trained, chestnut 5-year-old, who has impressively won all six of his races this year while increasing his career bankroll to a North American-record $13 million, was unmistakably the featured attraction of the training session.
Less than an hour later, an upstart took to the track to produce a sharp workout that certainly bolstered the confidence of those observers looking for a horse with the class, talent and speed to upset California Chrome in Saturday’s $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Arrogate, a 3-yearold colt who emerged from relative obscurity to shatter a Saratoga track record for 11⁄ miles while winning the Travers Stakes by 131⁄ lengths on Aug. 27, turned in a strong workout in 464⁄ seconds that did nothing to discourage those who believe the son of Unbridled’s Song has what it takes to repeat his remarkable stakes debut.
California Chrome, however, maintained an edge over Arrogate during yesterday’s post position draw for the Classic when he was installed as the even-money morning-line favorite in a field of 10 entered for the 11⁄ mile centerpiece of the 13-race Breeders’ Cup World Championships slated for Friday and Saturday. Arrogate’s trainer, Bob Baffert, had no problem with California Chrome being favored over his lightly raced colt that was rated second in the morning line at 5-2.
“Our colt, we don’t know how good he is. He’s going to have to be a super horse to beat Chrome. I saw Chrome today. He looked so good. He’s just so tough right now,” Baffert said.
California Chrome, a California-bred horse with humble bloodlines, is a considerably more accomplished bred than Arrogate, having captured six Grade 1 races, including the Derby, Preakness and this year’s $10 million Dubai World Cup.
“Chrome is so tough. Now I know how they felt about running against Pharoah last year,” said Baffert, who saddled his 2015 Triple Crown champion for a commanding triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Arrogate drew the far outside No. 10 post position, six stalls outside of California Chrome’s No. 4.
“He’ll be very forwardly placed and he won’t have horses next to him on both sides. Sometimes, you can get bumped coming out of there,” Arrogate’s jockey Mike Smith said. “If all goes well, I should get away well.”
California Chrome’s jockey Victor Espinoza admitted he would have preferred an outside post position.
“I’d rather be outside, but four will be good,” said Espinoza, who rode American Pharoah for his Triple Crown Sweep and Classic victory last year. “As long as California Chrome is ready, I should be able to move out of there quick.”
Keen Ice, who upset American Pharoah in the Travers and finished a distant fourth behind the champion in last year’s Classic, rates among the more prominent contenders, along with Frosted and the Baffert-trained Hoppertunity.
The California Chrome-Arrogate meeting is just one of several marquee matchups on tap for the 33rd edition of the Breeders’ Cup, including a three-way showdown among undefeated Songbird, Beholder and Stellar Wind in Friday’s featured $2 million Distaff for fillies and mares.
Songbird, who has thoroughly dominated her peers while winning 11 straight races, is set to make her first start against older rivals. The Jerry Hollendorfertrained filly was rated as the 6-5 morning-line favorite. Beholder, a three-time champion who captured the 2013 Distaff at Santa Anita, and Stellar Wind, who was beaten by a neck in last year’s Distaff at Keeneland and is coming off back-toback wins over Beholder, are rated co-second choices at 5-2.
Eight winners of 2015 Breeders’ Cup races are scheduled to compete in the 2016 World Championships.
Mile winner Tepin will be among four horses slated to defend their titles, joining Found (Turf), Wavell Avenue (Filly and Mare Sprint) and Mongolian Saturday (Turf Sprint). Songbird, the 2015 Juvenile Fillies winner, will be among four horses to return this weekend in different races than they won last year. Hit a Bomb, the Juvenile Turf winner, is set for the Mile. Catch a Glimpse, the Juvenile Filly Turf champion, is slated to run in the Filly & Mare Turf. Sprint winner Run-happy is entered for the Dirt Mile.