Late Saturday afternoon on November 1, 2014, California Chrome’s 2014 racing campaign came to a bittersweet end at Santa Anita where the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner came within a half-length of winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic and clinching not only the 3-year-old championship but possibly the Horse of the Year honors as well.
California Chrome-Victor Espinoza-Jockey-Art Sherman-Trainer
California Chrome’s 2014 racing campaign came to an end when he came within a half-length of winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic and clinching not only the 3-year-old championship but perhaps Horse of the Year honors as well.
© 2014 by Greensodaga
In the end, California Chrome avoided some early trouble that eliminated several key contenders in the Classic, including his chief rival for 3-year-old honors entering the race, the previously undefeated Shared Belief. But it was Bayern, who survived a stewards’ inquiry to become the front-runner for the title.
A Breeders’ Cup Classic that was set up to be a clean-cut title-decider for Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male instead had a wholly unsatisfying ending Saturday at Santa Anita, where Bayern led from start to finish after clobbering several rivals at the start but was left the winner by the stewards after a lengthy inquiry.
Kim Sawyer, who along with Scott Chaney and Tom Ward are Santa Anita’s stewards, said the inquiry focused on the contact between Bayern and Shared Belief, who finished fourth.
Ninety minutes after the race, the California Horse Racing Board released a statement from Chaney that said, in part, “The incident occurred in a part of the race where the horses interfered with were not cost the opportunity to place where they were reasonably expected to finish.”
California Chrome, who came from humble beginnings, captured the country’s imagination following his victories in the Derby and Preakness. But when his quest for the Triple Crown ended with a fourth-place finish in the Belmont, other horses captured the public's attention.
Training at his home base in Los Alamitos, California Chrome would start just once prior to the Breeders' Cup Classic, finishing sixth as the odds-on favorite in the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20, 2014.
“I wish we could have gotten in one more race before this one,” said jockey Victor Espinoza, about the Breeders' Cup. “I had a good trip today.... He tried really hard, although in the end he just got a little tired. But it was a tremendous year. It was such a great run winning the Derby and Preakness and after his race today, I still think he deserves to be the 3-year-old champion.”
Alan Sherman serves as an assistant for his father, trainer Art Sherman, and was an integral part of California Chrome’s Triple Crown run, overseeing the horse’s training on the East Coast throughout the series. The younger Sherman said after the Classic that he couldn’t have been prouder of his horse, even in defeat.
Sherman said he believes the 3-year-old championship and perhaps Horse of the Year honors, could well come down to a close vote among his horse, Bayern, and Shared Belief.
“You can probably give the award to any of the three,” said Sherman. “As for us, it was an awesome experience, so much fun. And whether he wins the championship or not, it was still an amazing year.”