Chrome-plated Classic caps title-deciding Breeders' Cup card

ARCADIA, Calif. – Just as the sun started to peek over the eastern horizon on Thursday morning at Santa Anita, California Chrome came onto the track for a gallop, the San Gabriel Mountains providing a perfect backdrop. It would be hard to imagine a more symbolic moment for this Breeders’ Cup, which is taking place in the Golden State, with the favorite son of the California racing and breeding industry at center stage Saturday.

California Chrome heads a $6 million Classic that closes the two days of racing here for the 33rd Breeders’ Cup. A victory would make him 7 for 7 this year and likely a unanimous choice as Horse of the Year, a title he won in 2014.

The entire card, though, has championship implications, ranging from the 2-year-old filly title in the day’s first Breeders’ Cup race, the Juvenile Fillies, right through the Classic. If, for instance, Arrogate wins the Classic, he would become a prime contender for an Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old male. And if Frosted were to win, he would even his score with California Chrome this year and own as many Grade 1 wins, making the voting for champion male dirt horse not quite the slam dunk it looks 48 hours out.

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In fact, nothing is ever certain in racing, even getting to a race after being entered. On Thursday morning, ill-timed injuries forced the scratches of morning-line second choice Lord Nelson from the Sprint and Suedois from the Turf Sprint.

There’s no doubt California Chrome will be the most popular horse racing on Saturday. His legion of fans, the “Chromies,” will be out in full force, much to the delight of the horse.

“I think he’s got some ham in him,” said Art Sherman, California Chrome’s trainer. “He loves to get his picture taken. He’s very intelligent. He has so much class.”

The Classic is the final race on a 12-race card that begins at 10:15 a.m. Pacific. Post time for the Classic is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. It will be shown live on NBC in a one-hour telecast beginning at 5 p.m.

There are three stakes to start the day at Santa Anita, followed by the nine Breeders’ Cup races. The eight Breeders’ Cup races preceding the Classic will be shown live on NBCSN, beginning at 11:30 a.m.

The Juvenile Fillies features Grade 1 winners Dancing Rags, Noted and Quoted, Sweet Loretta, Union Strike, and Yellow Agate. The winner likely earns the division’s Eclipse Award.

The Filly and Mare Turf could provide the comeback story of the year if Lady Eli wins, a little more than a year after battling laminitis. She won the Juvenile Fillies Turf here two years ago. Her rivals include last year’s Juvenile Fillies Turf winner, Catch a Glimpse.

The Sprint has been reduced to just seven runners following scratches this week of Lord Nelson and Joking. A. P. Indian can clinch the sprint title with a victory, but fast West Coast runners like Masochistic and Drefong are formidable opponents.

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Mongolian Saturday is back to defend his title in the Turf Sprint, a wide-open race that includes turnback milers like Obviously and Om, downhill course specialist Ambitious Brew, and top Eastern invaders A Lot and Pure Sensation.

The Juvenile is one of the deepest in years, with the likes of Classic Empire, Gormley, Not This Time, Practical Joke, and Three Rules each coming off a strong victory at a mile or longer, but Klimt, Syndergaard, and Theory all should get significant support.

Found is back to defend her title in the Turf, and she faces such highly regarded runners as Flintshire and her own stablemate Highland Reel.

The Filly and Mare Sprint is yet another race that has several legitimate contenders, all vying for the division’s championship, including Haveyougoneaway and Wavell Avenue, who won this race last year.

Another defending race winner, Tepin, returns in the Mile. She is seeking her second straight female grass title and to add to a glowing résumé that includes her Queen Anne victory at Royal Ascot in June. European star Limato is among her rivals.

All that serves as a warm-up to the main event, a highly anticipated Classic in which California Chrome will be favored among an accomplished field that includes Grade 1 winners Arrogate, Effinex, Frosted, Hoppertunity, Keen Ice, Melatonin, and Shaman Ghost.

On Saturday, they’ve saved the best for last.

– additional reporting by David Grening and Marcus Hersh