California Chrome basks in limelight

"It was nice, huh," said Espinoza, basking among well-wishers at Clockers'

Corner Sunday morning. "It's a great feeling to have a horse like him on a

special day like yesterday. The horse is something else.

"When I was that far in front, I didn't want to use him up for the next race.

I don't want to empty the tank yet."

"He came back great," said Alan Sherman, son of and assistant to Art and a

trainer in his own right. "He ate up last night and he looks good this morning.

He came back to Los Al last night and will do all his important training here

before going to Kentucky.

"The plane leaves on the 28th (of April). He'll just school and gallop at

Churchill Downs."

Now the countdown is on to Kentucky, where California Chrome will seek to

become the first horse bred in the Golden State to win the Run for the Roses

since Decidedly in 1962.

Meanwhile, the media, well-versed in dealing with the ABP's of racing, as in

Asmussen, Baffert and Pletcher, will 24/7 beseech Sherman, a new face,

figuratively speaking. At 77, the ex-jockey from Brooklyn might be long in the

tooth, but he is an otherwise refreshing newcomer with a multitude of underdog

storylines at a time when racing is sorely in want of same.

California Chrome has captured the hearts of the racing world, especially the

little guy who performs his menial tasks daily with little or no fanfare.

"This shows you a good horse can come from anywhere," said Richard Baltas,

one of countless unheralded trainers who make up the backbone of the industry

and without whom the game could not go on.

"When you see guys with a small outfit who have the best horse, it's

heartwarming and gratifying. I spoke to Art earlier this year and he was talking

about retiring. Then, here comes the horse of a lifetime. It keeps you going,

and it's a great story."

"I've been in the business going on three decades," said agent Brian Beach,

who represents Espinoza, "and I've won a lot of big races. I don't get chills

very often, but the Santa Anita Derby yesterday gave me chills halfway down the

stretch. The whole grandstand was standing and applauding. You don't see that

very often."

When it comes to miracles, the story of California Chrome is reaching for

shelf space bordering on supernatural, right up there with Jets versus Colts,

Douglas versus Tyson, Miracle on 34th Street, the Miracle Mets, the Miracle on

Ice, or any other miracle you want to name.

With great racing, the weather in a word, perfect, and an on-track crowd of

35,241 betting more than $4 million, Santa Anita Derby Day was a good day all

around.

"Everything Santa Anita is doing is outstanding," said agent Brad Pegram, who

represents Mike Smith and Martin Garcia, in an unsolicited statement.

"It's fun to be here now. It's a great atmosphere. There's a well-rounded

crowd with families, not just fans. Santa Anita is doing a terrific job."

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