Chrome is Golden in the $1,000,000 TVG Pacific Classic Chrome is Golden in the $1,000,000 TVG Pacific Classic
MDGovpics, Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 License

California Chrome left no doubt as to his plan. Breaking smartly from the gate, the even money favorite burst to an easy lead in a measured 23.20 first quarter, stretching out to a 3 length lead along the backside before cruising home for a daylight victory in 2:00.13. Jockey Victor Espinoza gave a look back in the stretch and no rivals could be found. This 5 yr old turned in a magnificent performance solidifying his grasp on 2016 Horse of the Year honors.

Beholder and Dortmund did their jobs to finish 2nd and 3rd respectively, but neither of them seemed to be in the same race with the winner as California Chrome ran to the wire alone. The $1 exacta returned a paltry $6.50 while the $2 trifecta paid $24.80.

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So what happened to the track bias I feared for Chrome? Well, something seemed a little different in the races leading up to the Classic on Saturday. I had written about the bias at Del Mar where, according to Brisnet Track Bias Stats, only 3% of 35 dirt races around 2 turns at 1-1/4 miles were won by rail runners. So I was a little surprised to see the earlier 1-turn races showing the inside to be so good.

In the 4th race 20-1 Souper Knight closed on the rail for the win. In the 5th it was 12-1 Zapperkat from post 1 riding the rail to the stretch, coming out just wide enough to pass the leader to bring home the win. In the 7th, Moe Candy just missed, finishing 3rd at odds of 7-2 but was headed at the top of the stretch and came back…on the rail. This all bode well for California Chrome’s break from post #1.

California Chrome not only defeated two outstanding opponents as well as a track bias, he has also overcome a pedigree more suited to the claiming ranks than to the 7 and 8-figure purses he regularly contends for. In a sport where the wealthiest of owners spend hundreds of thousands chasing royal lineages, Chrome’s parents were bought and bred for a total of about $10,000. California Chrome proves that it ain’t where you come from, it’s where you’ve been, and Chrome has been to the richest winner’s circles around. He is the biggest bargain since Apple was a penny stock.

Meanwhile back east at Saratoga, Songbird ran a glorified workout in the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes against 3yr old fillies to remain a perfect 10 wins in 10 career tries. Her romp at The Spa at 1-9 odds again raised the question as to whether she is that good or, is the rest of this year’s crop of fillies that mediocre. Jockey Mike Smith never asked her to run so we can’t tell much from her “pedestrian” final time of 2:03.

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With only three months left in Songbird’s 3yr old season, I don’t see anyone in her class giving her a race, and I don’t see a reason for her to try the boys anytime this year. Just present her the Eclipse Award now and let her have a victory lap at the Breeder’s Cup. With Beholder’s connections aiming to run next year as a 6yr old we could have a great pair to duel it out all of 2017.

We’ll be back to try and beat the favorite again next week.