California Chrome finds wire at Del Mar

Dortmund made California Chrome work for it, but North America’s richest thoroughbred prevailed by a half-length in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Diego Handicap on Saturday at Del Mar.

Both horses were coming off layoffs: California Chrome hadn’t raced since winning the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26, and Dortmund hadn’t raced since winning the Native Diver Stakes on Nov. 28.

California Chrome broke first in Saturday’s 11⁄16-mile race, but jockey Victor Espinoza let Dortmund and jockey Gary Stevens assume the lead going into the first turn.

Dortmund led by as much as 1 length on the backstretch, but California Chrome overtook him on the final turn and appeared ready to go on to a decisive victory. Dortmund

responded, though, and the two battled to the wire.

“I’ll tell you one thing: It was a great race to watch, and I’m glad I topped him this time,” said Art Sherman, California Chrome’s 79-year-old trainer. “My horse is just Chrome; he gives you his all every time.”

California Chrome finished in 1:40.84 — 0.84 from the track record — and now has won 13 of 22 starts, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2014, and has earned $12,652,650.

“California Chrome knows where the wire is, and it was a really exciting race for me down the stretch,” Espinoza said.

Dortmund has won 8 of 11

starts and is likely to meet California Chrome again in the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic on Aug. 20 at Del Mar. Also expected to run in that 1¼-mile race is the fabulous mare Beholder, who has won eight straight races.

“There are going to be some interesting races from now on,” Sherman said.

Toomuchisnotenough wins: Favored Toomuchisnotenough, claimed for $25,000 by trainer Jack Steiner on Feb. 21, outfinished Coniah by 1 length to win the $63,075 California Governor’s Cup Handicap for fillies and mares at the State Fair in Sacramento.

It was the third straight victory for Toomuchisnotenough,

who finished second in the Camilla Urso Stakes in her first start after the claim. The 5-year-old mare has won 9 of 15 starts overall and has earned $208,147 — $98,990 since the claim for owners Daniel O’Neill and Randy Marriott.

Alert Bay at Del Mar: Golden Gate Fields-based Alert Bay is the 2-to-1 morning-line favorite for the $150,000 California Dreamin’ Stakes for California-breds on Sunday at Del Mar. Alert Bay has won 12 of 27 starts and has earned $1,118,815.