California Chrome threw down the gauntlet to Beholder with a gutsy performance in the San Diego Handicap, the 1,800-metre contest in which the Dubai World Cup victor wore down the hulking Dortmund. When we came down the stretch, I was concerned. The 5-year-old Chrome won the $10 million World Cup in March in his last start.
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Dortmund, piloted by Gary Stevens, went to the front shortly after the break, but was hounded by California Chrome and jockey Victor Espinoza, who never allowed their rival to take a breather.
The race is a prep for the $1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on August 20.
Espinoza said: “I saved something for the end”.
“He is on a different level to her and I’m not anxious about taking her on at all”.
Perry Martin, majority owner of California Chrome, was relieved after the 2014 Kentucky Derby victor and Horse of the Year tracked pace-setting Dortmund through the first six furlongs, took the lead at the head of the stretch and survived a furious stretch duel in which Dortmund refused to give in.
It was California Chrome’s eighth graded or group stakes victory. I think he was a little short for that race. When he got back from England he looked like an anorexic. “I knew I’d have to”, Espinoza said. “I may be wrong but I can’t see how she will beat him”.
In the afternoon’s supporting feature, the $201,725 San Clemente Handicap for three-year-old fillies, Mokat and jockey Kent Desormeaux collaborated to score a decisive victory, by nearly four lengths, in 1:35.23 for the mile over the infield Jimmy Durante Turf Course.
“They both ran terrific”, he told reporters after the race. “I have a lot of respect for Dortmund and he made me run hard”.
Sherman, noticing a tendency toward speed in the prior races on the main track, made sure to tell Espinoza not to let Dortmund get too far away. This horse was carrying a lot of weight.
“What can I say?”
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Trainer Richard Mandella was due to give Beholder a workout at Del Mar on Sunday morning, after he chose to postpone a piece of exercise slated for Saturday after three horses were injured – Whisky And Wine fatally – at morning trackwork.
