California Chrome Untouchable in Pacific Classic

2016 Pacific Classic: California Chrome’s Most Impressive Performance to Date

By: Christopher Ado & Claudia L. Ruiz

Del Mar billed the 2016 Pacific Classic as a Battle of the Sexes, bringing California Chrome (winner of the 2014 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, 2014 Horse of the Year and $10M 2016 Dubai World Cup winner) face to face with Beholder (defending 2015 Pacific Classic champ and multiple Eclipse Award-winning mare) in an epic showdown. Both horses would take on Dortmund, whose only defeats have been to 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and California Chrome in the San Diego Handicap.

Spectators packed into Del Mar on Saturday, August 20, with shirts and posters in support of California Chrome and Beholder, eager to witness this year’s renewal of the Gr.1 Pacific Classic. Despite all the hype entering the race, California Chrome proved much the best, putting on a dominant gate-to-wire performance that seemed entirely effortless.

California Chrome broke from post #1, under jockey Victor Espinoza, and took the early initiative without hesitation. Floating main rivals Beholder and Dortmund wide, the Art Sherman-trained son of Lucky Pulpit set the pace comfortably running through fractions of 23.20 (quarter) and 47.29 (half mile). As the field reached the backstretch, California Chrome had the uncontested lead racing 2 ½ lengths in front of Beholder after six furlongs in 1:11.22. Reaching the far turn, it was no longer a matter of if he would win, but by how many lengths he would do it.

Victor Espinoza looked comfortably to the inside to see Flavien Prat urging his mount, Hoppertunity, to keep pace with the leader. Espinoza then looked outside to spot Gary Stevens urging Beholder into the stretch, while rival Dortmund was sitting third with Rafael Bejarano encouraging the colt forward. Despite their efforts, there was simply no catching California Chrome.

The handsome chestnut strided effortlessly past the final furlong with a four-length lead under a hand-ride by Espinoza. Galloping to one of their most impressive wins to date, California Chrome hit the wire five lengths ahead, clocking a final time of 2:00.13 as Trevor Denman announced, “California Chrome, unbelievable!”

Beholder finished second, 2 1/4 lengths in front of third place finisher Dortmund. Hoppertunity was fourth.

A crowd of 24,155 cheered California Chrome into the winners’ circle with a standing ovation. The winning check of $600,000 was presented to the 5-year-old, whose career earnings now total $13.2M.

Before the race, there were doubts about California Chrome’s chances in the Pacific Classic because of his rail position. In the Pennsylvania Derby he broke from the rail and finished a lackluster sixth, beaten by 7 ¼ lengths. But jockey Victor Espinoza knew the outcome of Del Mar’s most prestigious race was dependent on the start.

“Right when I was behind the gate I thought, ‘You know what, I’m going to send [California Chrome] out of here. I’m going to send [him] fast out of the gate and then move out just a little toward the middle of the track,” Espinoza explained after the race. “I tapped California Chrome a couple of times and I was surprised [when he] opened up two or three lengths right away. By that time I was very confident and happy. That’s where I won.”

Trainer Art Sherman has been taken to the pinnacle of racing with visits to the winners’ circle in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Dubai World Cup. Sherman was full of praise for his prized trainee.“When you’re training a horse like Chrome, he’s kind of push button. Being a former rider I can understand Victor’s thinking. When you’re in front, you can’t get shut off. He’s [California Chrome]… I can’t believe that I get to train him,” Sherman gushed. “I’m sure he’ll be in the Hall of Fame some day, and it will be good to know that I trained a horse of his caliber.”

Defending champion and lone mare in the Pacific Classic, for the second time in two years, Beholder lost nothing in defeat to California Chrome. Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens was proud of his mare’s effort. “She ran a great race,” he said. “I was hoping that she’d have that huge kick again like she did last year, but not this time. It was a gutsy performance for her.”

The ultimate goal for California Chrome is the $6M Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on November 5. Prior to then, connections have confirmed the 2014 Horse of the Year will look to start in the Gr.1 Awesome Again on October 1 at Santa Anita Park. To add to the excitement, there is a $1M bonus for winning the Pacific Classic, Awesome Again and Breeders’ Cup Classic. Will Chrome seek redemption by winning all three? For now, the Chromies will have to wait it out. But what a year it has turned out to be for California Chrome.