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CALIFORNIA CHROME's 2016 Winter Challenge ("TVG Classic" - Entire Televised Broadcast)
CALIFORNIA CHROME is scheduled to make the final start of his career in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28, 2017, before going off to stud February in Kentucky.
CALIFORNIA CHROME, the 2014 Horse of the Year, drew a crowd of more than 5,000 to Los Alamitos his training home base. They saw what they wanted. As CALIFORNIA CHROME left the winner's circle, the audience crowded on the rails shouted his name, "CHROME! CHROME! CHROME!"
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, CALIFORNIA CHROME raced wide for the first six furlongs, took the lead entering the stretch, and won by 12 lengths without urging. CALIFORNIA CHROME ran 1-1/16 miles in a track record time of 1:40.03.
"It's a good day," trainer Art Sherman said. "You could see what happens when you have a star."
CALIFORNIA CHROME won the 15th stakes of his career in the Los Alamitos Winter Challenge. This year, he has won 7 of 8 starts, with the only loss a second to ARROGATE in last month's Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on November 5, 2016. Earlier in 2016, CALIFORNIA CHROME won six stakes, including the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in March, 2016, and the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August, 2016.
Espinoza said he thought CALIFORNIA CHROME was ready when he climbed aboard in the paddock. "He was super strong today," Espinoza said. "The most important thing was how he felt physically." While the Los Alamitos Winter Challenge was a minor race, Espinoza said the race helped soothe the loss in the Breeders' Cup Classic when Espinoza rode with confidence only to be caught in the final strides by ARROGATE.
"After the race I got beat, it was nice to win the race the way he did today," Espinoza said. "Maybe I blew it in the Breeders' Cup; it wasn't perfect...I could have done a little better."
CALIFORNIA CHROME has won 16 of 26 starts and earned $14,502,650, the highest earnings of a North American-based Thoroughbred. With this winning prep race behind him, CHROME is on schedule for the $12 million Pegasus World Cup and a repeat matchup with ARROGATE.
Watch the entire TVG televised broadcast of the LOS ALAMITOS WINTER CHALLENGE STAKES featuring a ten-horse field:
HOWDY
WRIGHTWOOD
PRESIDENTSKY
POINT PIPER
AIN'T MISBEHAVIN
LUCKY J LANE
AVANTI BELLO
UNUSUAL MEETING
PAPACOOLPAPACOOL
CALIFORNIA CHROME
(49 Minutes)
Listing Info: | |
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Listing ID: | 1495 |
Format(s) Available: | DVD And VHS |
Category: | U.S. & Canadian Flat Racing |