California Chrome Dominates In Dubai

Maybe this is how the script was supposed to end last year? With California Chrome shredding the field at Meydan Race Course en route to a victory in the $10 million Dubai World Cup. It didn’t work out that way in 2015–Chrome got run down in the stretch by a forgettable gelding named Prince Bishop–but this time California Chrome was simply on a different level. He looked elite while the rest of the field looked downright ordinary.

This time Victor Espinoza–who has had pretty much the best two year run that a jockey can possibly have–guided California Chrome to a 3 3/4 lengths win over second place Mubtaahij but even that emphatic length of victory doesn’t accurately convey the dominance of the biggest rock star horse in the sport. Observers have suggested that California Chrome has looked like he ‘meant business’ ever since arriving in Dubai over a month ago and there was little that he left undone early Saturday. He set a 2,000 meters course record on dirt (admittedly just two years at Meydan) of 2:01.83. He improved his record to 12-3-1 in 21 starts and the $6 million winners share of the purse pushed Chrome past Curlin as the winningest US race horse in history. His career earnings now stand at $12,532,650.

While some pundits have speculated that this was the only bit of ‘unfinished business’ on California Chrome’s career resume at this point it looks like he might run twice this season before beginning his stud career. He’ll leave Dubai on Thursday and head to Chicago for a brief quarantine. At that pointed he’ll be vanned to Taylor Made Farms in Lexington, Kentucky for a full month of rest and relaxation. Although nothing is definite at this point, trainer Art Sherman said that he expects Chrome to race two more times before heading to the breeding shed–in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar and the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Assuming Sherman is correct, the biggest rock star in the horse racing world will spend the rest of his competitive career in his old Southern California stomping grounds before riding off into the sunset…er…sunrise.