After much anticipation, our champ, California Chrome, returns to race tomorrow, 7/23/16! In his last race, on 3/26/16, in the $10 million dollar Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in UAE, Chrome finished in first place. I feel strongly that he will be triumphant again Saturday when he races at Del Mar.
Del Mar Racetrack in Del Mar, CA was inaugurated in 1937. The San Diego Handicap, a stakes race for Thoroughbreds ages 3 and older, began at Del Mar the same year. This race has a purse of $200,000. It is a Grade II race on the dirt at a distance of 1 and 1/16 miles, 9 furlongs. The San Diego Handicap is a favorite prep race for the $1 million dollar Pacific Classic which takes place at Del Mar as well. Del Mar has a few slogans. Most people are familiar with “Where the Turf Meets the Surf”, as Del Mar sits beautifully right on the beach. More recently, the track goes by “Cool as Ever”, to attract a new, young and fashionable crowd. I like my new slogan, “Where Our Chrome is in a League of His Own”!
A field of 7 horses will compete at 6:10 p.m. PT (9:10 p.m. EST) in race 9 tomorrow in the San Diego Handicap. The contenders are as follows by post position/horse/age, gender, state of birth/jockey/trainer/owner/sire,dam
- Hard Aces/6YO, H, KY/Santiago Gonzalez/John W. Sadler/Hroni’s Racing, LLC/Hard Spun, All In With Aces
- Dortmund/4YO, C, KY/Gary L. Stevens/Bob Baffert/Kaleem Shah, Inc/Big Brown, Our Josephina
- Soi Phet/8YO, G, CA/Kent J. Desormeux/Leonard Powell/Benowitz Family Trust, Mathilde Powell, Paul A. Viskovich/Tizbub, Summer Jersey
- Crittenden/4YO, G, KY/Martin Garcia/Eoin G. Harty/Godolphin Racing, LLC/Distorted Humor, Calla Lilly
- Follow Me Crev/4YO, G, KY/Alonso Quinonez/Vladimir Cerin/Holly and David Wilson/Quality Road, Vicki Vallencourt
- California Chrome/5YO, H, CA/Victor Espinoza/Art Sherman/California Chrome, LLC/Lucky Pulpit, Love the Chase
- Win the Space/4YO, C, KY/Mike E. Smith/George Papaprodromou/Kretz Racing, LLC/Pulpit, Teamgeist
Hard Aces has won just 6 of 32 races. He has raced at Del Mar. His trainer, John W. Sadler, won the San Diego in 2013.
Dortmund is probably Chrome’s strongest competitor. He has a 8 in 10 record and has experience at Del Mar as well. His trainer, Bob Baffert and owner, Kaleem Shaw, won the San Diego in 2014. His jockey, Gary L. Stevens won the San Diego in 2015.
Soi Phet has a 5 in 33 record. He has not raced at Del Mar.
Crittenden has raced and won at Del Mar. He has a 4 in 15 career. Martin Garcia, his jockey, won the San Diego in 2014.
Follow Me Crev has a 5 in 17 record. He has raced 5 times at Del Mar.
I believe California Chrome will win as he is the favorite and looks to be the strongest contender. He has won 12 times in his 21 career races. I am ready to see him with lucky 13! He has raced at Del Mar 3 times. His jockey, Victor Espinoza, won the San Diego Handicap in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2013.
Win the Space has won 3 of 11 races. He has started at Del Mar 3 times. His jockey, Mike E. Smith won the San Diego in 2006.
Good luck to California Chrome! I hope he wins this race. He is expected to do so. He is our 2014 Horse of the Year and is on top and on the road to grabbing that title in 2016. He has just these last 5 races. After the San Diego Handicap, he will race in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on 8/20/16, the Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita on 10/1/16, the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on 11/5/16 and finally, the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream on 1/28/17. Following that, he will retire to stud at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky.
Enjoy week 2 of Del Mar and opening day of Saratoga. I won’t make it to the track this weekend so tell me all about your adventures. I will post again next week. Until then, have fun at the races!
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