California Chrome, Dortmund conquer physical ailments to remain elite runners

DEL MAR, Calif. - The energy from California Chrome’s brilliant half-length win over Dortmund in Saturday’s $200,000 San Diego Handicap was still present at trainer Art Sherman’s stable at Del Mar on Sunday morning, a very welcome sort of hangover.

In his first start since a win in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26, California Chrome caught Dortmund in early stretch and held off his stubborn and determined rival through a thrilling final furlong.

“It was a battle,” said Frank Taylor, who co-owns California Chrome. “Dortmund is some kind of horse. He didn’t quit.”

Considering where California Chrome was a year ago, and Dortmund’s status four months ago, their respective performances have even greater meaning.

Last July, California Chrome’s racing career was in doubt. A bruised cannon bone diagnosed last July led to the cancellation of his 2015 season, a partial sale, and his brief relocation to Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky.

“When we bought him, we thought we were buying him for the breeding,” Taylor recalled on Sunday.

A subsequent physical inspection by prominent veterinarian Larry Bramlage changed the outlook. California Chrome was in better shape than realized.

“He said we could get him back to peak form,” Taylor said. “The time off really helped him.”

California Chrome returned to Sherman’s stable last October as the property of Perry Martin and Taylor Made. He left Taylor Made Farms for California 190 pounds heavier than he was in the summer.

Since returning to Sherman, California Chrome is unbeaten in four starts.

Dortmund, the millionaire multiple stakes winner, was plagued by foot issues that forced him out of training this spring. Owned by Kaleem Shah, the 4-year-old Dortmund missed the big early season races such as the San Antonio Stakes and Santa Anita Handicap.

Through early summer, Dortmund progressed steadily to give trainer Bob Baffert high hopes for the San Diego, which was run at 1 1/16 miles. His plan almost worked. Dortmund led on the turn and fought back when challenged by California Chrome. In the stretch, the two were clear of three rivals.

“I’ve got a lot of respect for Chrome,” Baffert said on Sunday. “That was quite a race.

“He ran hard. He got beat by a good horse. He couldn’t get separation from him.”

California Chrome and Dortmund will have a rematch in the $1 million Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 20. The race is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth for the $6 million BC Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

The Pacific Classic field is expected to include Beholder, the three-champion mare who is scheduled to start in Saturday’s $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar, and Melatonin, the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap and Gold Cup at Santa Anita earlier this year.

They are the all-star team of top older horses on the West Coast.

California Chrome will be the Pacific Classic favorite – for analytical gamblers, and especially for the racing fans who swell the grandstand and paddock rails with cameras aloft. A California-bred honored as the 2014 Horse of the Year, California Chrome has won 13 of 22 starts. His earnings of $12,652,650 are a record for a North-American based Thoroughbred.

Sunday, California Chrome was shipped back to Sherman’s base at Los Alamitos, where he will remain for the next three weeks. Sherman plans to send California Chrome back to Del Mar a week before the Pacific Classic.

“He pulled up cool,” Sherman said. “I thought he’d be a little tired.

“I’m all set. I don’t have to push on him. We can have a maintenance drill and we’ll bring him back about a week before. I can school him here and have a lot of long gallops. He likes that.”

That’s what the Chromies – as California Chrome’s fans are known - want to hear. That’s what will make the Pacific Classic the most anticipated race of the summer.