California Chrome to carry top weight in San Diego

DEL MAR, Calif. – California Chrome will carry 126 pounds and spot his rivals at least five pounds Saturday at Del Mar in the Grade 2, $200,000 San Diego Handicap, his first start since winning the Dubai World Cup four months ago.

Handicap races are becoming increasingly rare, and this likely will be the last one in which California Chrome competes, since his remaining scheduled races are all weight-for-age. He carried 126 pounds in the Dubai World Cup. The most he has carried is 132, when he won his prep in Dubai for the World Cup.

Dortmund, who will be returning from an eight-month layoff in the 1 1/16-mile San Diego, was assigned 121 pounds. The other expected starters are Follow Me Crev and Win the Space (116 pounds each), and Crittenden (114 pounds).

Hard Aces (118 pounds) is possible, but he could await the Grade 3, $100,000 Cougar II Handicap going 1 1/2 miles on Sunday.

Eoin Harty, who trains Crittenden, said Monday he will employ jockey Martin Garcia because “I know he can make the weight.”

Crittenden, second in a minor stakes race at the Oak Tree meeting at Pleasanton last time out, worked five furlongs here Monday in 1:00.20.
Follow Me Crev worked a half-mile Monday in 48 seconds.