Chrome equally at home on turf in Hollywood Derby

Kentucky Derby and Preakness hero California Chrome seamlessly transferred

his game to turf in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,250

Hollywood Derby, in a race loaded with Eclipse Award implications. By

notching his fourth Grade 1 victory of the season, the popular California-bred

sparked more discussion about his candidacy for champion three-year-old male,

and emboldened his supporters' hopes for the Horse of the Year title.

Although California Chrome was the undisputed divisional leader two-thirds of

the way through the Triple Crown, he went on to lose three straight. The Art

Sherman trainee dead-heated for fourth after a stumbling start in the June 8

Belmont Stakes, and tired to sixth behind Bayern in the September 20

Pennsylvania Derby. Back to peak form for the November 1 Breeders' Cup Classic,

California Chrome still could not get by Bayern, or by English shipper Toast of

New York, and settled for a close third.

Steve Coburn and Perry Martin's homebred thereby entered the Hollywood Derby

as something of a turf experiment, with the incentive of garnering another Grade

1 on a new surface. The bid paid off, to the delight of the fans who sent

California Chrome off as the 3-5 favorite.

"Art said he had a real strong gut feeling that this horse would run on the

grass," Coburn said. "We said, 'OK Art, if you really feel that strong, let's

find a race for him.' This was it. This is for the fans." 

The flashy chestnut broke like a shot for regular rider Victor Espinoza and

led through an opening quarter in :23 2/5 on Del Mar's firm turf. Sawyer's Hill

then signaled his intent on wresting the lead, and Espinoza wisely throttled

"Chrome" back into second. As Sawyer's Hill sped ahead through splits of :46 4/5

and 1:11 2/5, Chrome was traveling ominously well. Lexie Lou, the filly who beat

the boys in the Queen's Plate, moved closer entering the far turn, in company

with Flamboyant, and for a few strides, the race appeared to get interesting.

But California Chrome quickly snuffed out any thoughts of drama. Brushing

Sawyer's Hill aside in short order swinging into the stretch, the dual classic

winner bounded clear. He maintained a two-length advantage over Lexie Lou while

finishing nine grassy furlongs in 1:47 4/5.

"That kick at the end, that acceleration -- it was just like when he won the

(Kentucky) Derby," Espinoza said. "It all went well today. The horse inside

(Sawyer's Hill) didn't break as fast as I thought he would and my horse went

right to the front. I thought the other horse would go, but I was ready for most

anything happening there at the beginning. I let the other horse go by going

into the first turn and I was happy right where I was. He was going easy.

"Then when we got to the far turn, he was ready to roll. Oh, was he ready to

roll! He just turned it on and I knew we were home. You can see now that grass

is no problem. Grass, dirt, synthetic -- you name it. This horse likes it and

he'll run on it." 

"I knew he was going to be sharp leaving the gate," Sherman said, "and I told

Victor not to be too far out of it. When he broke really sharp, I said 'Oh,

wow.' But Victor knew what to do when Sawyer's Hill wanted the lead. There was

never any point where I was really anxious. I was confident. We're here on our

home ground, he's got all the people here and he's such a favorite with

everybody. It makes me feel good to know I can run him on the grass. Just

another option."

Lexie Lou had a length to spare from third-placer Talco. Sawyer's Hill faded

to fourth, trailed by Cabral and Flamboyant, who was essentially wrapped up on

in midstretch.

California Chrome's resume now stands at 16-9-1-1, $4,222,650. Victorious in

the Graduation Stakes over Del Mar's Polytrack as a juvenile, he commenced a

six-race winning streak with a 6 1/4-length romp in the King Glorious on closing

day at Hollywood last December. California Chrome went on to similarly dominant

victories at Santa Anita in the January 25 Cal Cup Derby, March 8 San Felipe and

April 5 Santa Anita Derby. He next took his game on the road to justify 5-2

favoritism in the May 3 Kentucky Derby, and prevailed as the 1-2 favorite in the

May 17 Preakness, only to have his Triple Crown dreams dashed in the Belmont.

By far the top performer by Lucky Pulpit, who was best known as a turf

sprinter himself, California Chrome is the first registered foal from the

winning Not for Love mare Love the Chase. This extended family is responsible

for Cascapedia, the champion older mare of 1977.

With his turf aptitude proven, Sherman is now looking toward possible

international ventures.

"We've got a lot of options. Royal Ascot wants us to come over to England.

They said 'We'll treat you royally.' And we've got Dubai in March. That's

another option.

"We're going to definitely run him another year," the trainer added. "And

he's a good shipper. He gets on an airplane like he's a frequent flier."

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