California Chrome still has people talking

It has been a year since California Chrome, one of the most popular runners of recent years, made his final start in the inaugural Pegasus World Cup. But the two-time Horse of the Year’s family continues to cause conversation in the Thoroughbred industry, with the recent arrival of his first foal, his dam being booked to a successful young sire, and his full brother eyeing stakes company.

Pay the Man delivered a colt by California Chrome last Saturday night at Calumet Farm. The Bernstein mare is the highest-earning Ohio-bred female in history, bankrolling $1,058,511, powered by 21 statebred stakes victories. Calumet purchased her as a broodmare prospect for $95,000 at the 2014 Keeneland November breeding stock sale.

California Chrome stands at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky, where he covered 145 mares last year, according to The Jockey Club’s Report of Mares Bred. After returning from the Southern Hemisphere season in Chile, he is preparing to stand his second Northern Hemisphere season for an advertised stud fee of $40,000.

Meanwhile, California Chrome’s dam, the winning Not for Love mare Love the Chase, has been booked to standout young sire Uncle Mo for the upcoming season, Tom Ryan of owner SF Bloodstock announced.

Love the Chase is in foal to Pioneerof the Nile after delivering a colt by Tapit on Jan. 25, 2017. The mare is the dam of two winners from four starters. Faversham, a full brother to California Chrome, rallied to finish second on debut recently and is pointing to the California Cup Derby on Feb. 19.

“They’ve got the same attitude,” trainer Art Sherman said of the two full brothers. “They’re kind of up-front-type horses. He’s got a good mind; nothing bothers him. You could see that in the paddock. He’s just not as big and stout as Chrome was.”