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California Chrome pulls away down the stretch to win 140th running of the Kentucky Derby California Chrome pulls away down the stretch to win 140th running of the Kentucky Derby
(about 4 hours later)
LOUISVILLE — All winter and spring, California Chrome kept getting better, even as his top 3-year-old rivals succumbed to injuries or delivered stagnant performances. LOUISVILLE — Art Sherman looked dazed, perhaps still a bit uncertain that fate had handed him such a magnificent gift after six decades of devotion to racehorses.
The Kentucky Derby is known for confounding expectations with its packed fields and unevenly tested competitors. But California Chrome struck a blow for order today as he surged to victory in the first leg of the Triple Crown in front of an announced crowd of 164,906, the second-largest attendance in the Derby’s 140-year history. A few feet away, Steve Coburn’s voice caught with emotion as he spoke of those who didn’t believe. Perry Martin wiped tears from his eyes, hugging a relative who shouted: “Oh my God, what a ride! Just like you called it!”
Starting from the No. 6 post as a 2-1 favorite, California Chrome stayed close to the lead the entire race and broke free down the stretch under jockey Victor Espinoza, winning easily in an unofficial time of 2:03.66. Commanding Curve came in second while Danza finished third. The second-choice coming in, Wicked Strong, was a respectable fourth. For these men, California Chrome had long been the horse of dreams. And against the classic backdrop of Churchill Downs, the rest of the world finally caught up to their vision.
California Chrome paid $7, $5.60 and $4.20. The 37-1 long-shot Commanding Curve returned $31.80 and $15.40. Danza paid $6 to show. Defying the skepticism of many experienced horsemen, this West Coast colt of modest lineage charged to victory as the favorite in the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby.
A chestnut colt, California Chrome is the first California bred horse to win the Derby since 1962. He was the fastest horse coming in and also, perhaps, the best story. “He gave me the biggest thrill of my life,” said Sherman, who at 77 became the oldest trainer to win the Derby. “At this stage of my life, what else could I want?”
His owners, Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, are far from old-timey racing royalty. They’re middle-class people who met when they partnered to buy California Chrome’s mother, Maryland-bred Love the Chase, for $8,000. They spent another $2,000 to pair her with an undistinguished stallion named Lucky Pulpit. Only a wild optimist could have seen the potential magic in the mix. Coburn, who co-owns California Chrome with Martin, had an answer. “I said our horse would win the Kentucky Derby, and when he wins, I believe this horse will win the Triple Crown,” he said. “I told people, I said this colt will go down in history, because he’s going to be the first California-bred [horse] to win the Triple Crown.”
But Coburn and Martin loved the curious, personable colt and placed him under the care of veteran California trainer Art Sherman, now the oldest to train a Kentucky Derby winner. If California Chrome does manage to win the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, he would become the first to pull it off since Affirmed, in 1978.
Rival trainers said they wouldn’t doubt it, after what they saw Saturday. “I was very, very wrong,” said Dale Romans, who saddled Medal Count in the Derby and believed California Chrome had no chance. “We might have just seen a super horse and a super trainer. You don’t fake your way to the winner’s circle at the Kentucky Derby.”
Starting from the No. 6 post, California Chrome ran just off the lead under jockey Victor Espinoza, then pulled away easily at the top of the stretch to win by 13/
4 lengths.
It was exactly the race Sherman had envisioned all week. “I tell you, he rode him picture-perfect,” the trainer said of Espinoza, who won his second Kentucky Derby. (His first came aboard War Emblem in 2002.)
“This was a typical race for him,” Espinoza said, a scary thought for the rest of the 3-year-olds on the planet.
With his win before a crowd of 164,906, the second largest in Kentucky Derby history, California Chrome took home $1.418 million of a $2.178 million total purse.
At 5-2 odds, the favorite paid $7 on a $2 bet to win, $5.60 to place and $4.20 to show. Commanding Curve, a 38-1 underdog, finished second ($31.80, $15.40). Danza, a 9-1 third choice, ran third ($6).
All winter and spring, as his top 3-year-old rivals succumbed to injuries or delivered stagnant performances, California Chrome kept getting better.
The Kentucky Derby is known for confounding expectations with its packed fields and unevenly tested competitors. But California Chrome was exactly the horse at Churchill he had been in winning the Santa Anita Derby a month earlier.
The chestnut colt was the fastest horse coming in and also, perhaps, the best story.
His owners, Coburn and Martin, are far from old-timey racing royalty. They’re middle-class people who met when they partnered to buy California Chrome’s mother, Maryland-bred Love the Chase, for $8,000. They spent another $2,500 to pair her with an undistinguished stallion named Lucky Pulpit. Only a wild optimist could have seen the potential magic in the mix.
But Coburn said he dreamed of a special, chestnut horse just three weeks before Love the Chase gave birth to her first foal: California Chrome.
He and Martin loved the curious, personable colt and placed him under Sherman’s care, figuring the modest, old-school trainer would pay the attention he needed.
Sherman had been a steady winner for years without ever getting his hands on a Triple Crown talent. California Chrome brought him back to Churchill Downs for the first time in 59 years; Sherman’s last visit was as an 18-yeard-old stable hand for 1955 champion Swaps.Sherman had been a steady winner for years without ever getting his hands on a Triple Crown talent. California Chrome brought him back to Churchill Downs for the first time in 59 years; Sherman’s last visit was as an 18-yeard-old stable hand for 1955 champion Swaps.
Even Espinoza was looking for some redemption. His last Triple Crown victory was 2002 in the Preakness with War Emblem, who also won the Derby that year. With more than 3,000 career victories, though, people had wondered when the 41-year-old would get back to the winner’s circle in a Triple Crown race. He visited Swaps’s grave at the Kentucky Derby Museum on Thursday and asked the superhorse of his youth for a little help with his superhorse of today. “I said a little prayer and it came true,” Sherman recalled. “I said I hope he’s another Swaps.”
As California Chrome continued to exceed expectations with dominant wins in his prep races, Coburn and Martin received potentially life-changing purchase offers, the greatest at $6 million for 51 percent of the horse. They defiantly rejected the well-monied suitors. As California Chrome continued to exceed expectations with dominant wins in his prep races, Coburn and Martin received potentially life-changing purchase offers, the greatest a $6 million bid for 51 percent of the horse. They said no to the well-moneyed suitors.
This was their story to see through. And Sherman’s.This was their story to see through. And Sherman’s.
After bringing the improbable tale to a climax in Kentucky, California Chrome will try to write an even grander chapter by becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. The Preakness Stakes is on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course. California Chrome reached Churchill Downs as a clear favorite, yet veteran horsemen questioned his chances. They fixated on his unremarkable pedigree, or on his never running outside California, or on Sherman’s lack of experience on the big stage.
After No. 2 choice Hoppertunity (6-1) scratched on Thursday because of soreness in his front foot, Wicked Strong was bumped up to a 6-1 second choice. Odds also dropped for Candy Boy, Intense Holiday, Tapiture, Danza and Vicar’s In Trouble. Pablo Del Monte was slotted in the 20th post position, but pulled out of the Derby on Friday. “Do you not believe this man can train a horse?” Coburn said, nodding to Sherman. “Because if you don’t, you need to have your head examined.”
Wicked Strong was trying to win for Boston, where the horse’s ownership group is based. He was renamed last year to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. And 5 percent of his Triple Crown winnings will go to charities supporting them. Sherman, who spent 23 years as a jockey, felt he was riding just beside Espinoza over the last 70 yards. “Keep rolling there, big boy,” he recalled thinking.
A triumph by Wicked Strong, was supposed to be some kind of vindication for understated New York trainer Jimmy Jerkens. In 2009, he had to scratch potential Derby favorite Quality Road because of an injury just five days before the race. The colt’s owner then replaced Jerkens with star trainer Todd Pletcher. He was devastated and unsure if he’d ever have another shot at the Triple Crown stage. The stage now heads to Maryland, another place where Sherman rode as a young man. He said he’ll probably keep California Chrome in Kentucky for about a week, then transport him to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore ahead of the May 17 Preakness.
Other storylines that didn’t pan out today: He promised to be the same jovial, thankful man who charmed folks for the last week in Louisville. “I’m just the same old Art Sherman,” he said. “Except I won the Kentucky Derby.”
* Rosie Napravnik, the nation’s leading jockey and winner of Friday’s Kentucky Oaks aboard Untapable, was trying to become the first female jockey to win the Derby. She has the highest finish ever for a woman in the Derby — coming in fifth last year riding Mylute.
* Danza, named for actor Tony Danza, became a fan and betting favorite, and had moved up to the third choice on Derby day. But experts could not decide if he was the real deal or the ultimate flash in the pan. Was Danza the colt who had little resume as a Kentucky Derby contender until three weeks ago, an also-ran in trainer Todd Pletcher’s barn? Or was he the sensation who whipped a field of more touted 3-year-olds in the Arkansas Derby? As it turned out today, he was the real deal, finishing a strong third.
* Brothers Jose Ortiz and Irad Ortiz were making their first Derby starts. Jose, 20, was aboard Samraat, while Irad, 21, was riding Uncle Sigh. Having grown up in Puerto Rico, the brothers have become top jockeys on the New York racing circuit.
— Baltimore Sun— Baltimore Sun