California Chrome gets his first winner as sire in Russia

Well-traveled two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome, who began his stud career in Kentucky and shuttled to Chile before being sold to Japan, has been represented by his first winner in Russia.

Sunkar Time won a maiden race going about seven furlongs at Krasnodar Racetrack on Saturday in Russia. The colt was bred in Kentucky by Bruce C. Ryan and was sold to Mikhail Yanakov's Olympia Star for $14,000 at the 2019 Keeneland September yearling sale.

California Chrome retired to Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky for the 2017 season after a racing career in which he won seven Grade 1/Group 1 races, including the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes; he also traveled overseas to win the 2016 Dubai World Cup. The son of Lucky Pulpit retired with earnings of $14,752,650, titles as the 2014 and 2016 Horse of the Year, and Eclipse Award divisional titles in both those seasons as well.

According to The Jockey Club's Report of Mares Bred, California Chrome covered books numbering 145, 133, and 143 mares in his three seasons at stud in the United States. To date, he has had three first-crop starters in the United States – Cilla, who finished third in a maiden race June 29 at Delaware Park; Mamma Rama, third on July 1 at Emerald Downs; and Roundhouse Blues, second on July 12 at Monmouth. The stallion also has had one unplaced starter, Cal Fragrance, in Japan.

Late last year, the syndicate that stood California Chrome at Taylor Made – he also shuttled to Chile for two seasons – reached an agreement with JS Company Ltd. of Japan to purchase California Chrome. He is now based at Arrow Stud in Japan, where he recently completed his first season with a full book.