Texas Chrome eyes Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile

OKLAHOMA CITY – Texas Chrome and Sticksstatelydude were headed in different directions on Monday, the morning after they finished first and second in the Grade 3, $400,000 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.

Texas Chrome won his seventh stakes race in the Oklahoma Derby on Sunday, and trainer J.R. Caldwell said he could land next in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. Sticksstatelydude has a tentative goal of the Grade 3 Discovery at Aqueduct, said trainer Greg Burchell.

Texas Chrome was bright and alert on Monday. On Sunday, he stalked the pace, dove to the inside in the stretch, engaged leader Sticksstatelydude, and edged away to win by a half-length. Texas Chrome earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 96, matching his career best from his win Sept. 10 in the Grade 3, $400,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs.

“He’s been battled tested the last two weeks through his big efforts,” Caldwell said. “He’ll get a couple of weeks just to get his feet under him, and we’ll make our plans accordingly.”

Caldwell and Danny Keene, who owns Texas Chrome, are both looking at the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

“We’d love to go,” Caldwell said. “We don’t want to go out there and run last just to say we went. We want to go thinking we have a chance and have a shot. Those races are the best of the best, and we’ve got to come with our ‘A’ game, so if the horse is good and it looks like we can be competitive in the race, we’re going to take our shot and go for it.”

Caldwell said he thinks the Breeders’ Cup is an opportunity that’s been earned by both Texas Chrome and Keene.

“They deserve the shot,” he said. “They deserve it for the runs Chrome has put in and the time, patience, and money Mr. Keene has put into the business.”

Keene has won multiple owner titles in Texas.

Sticksstatelydude was to ship to Churchill Downs on Monday, said Burchell. He hopes to find a bridge race to the Discovery, which is scheduled for Nov. 12. Sticksstatelydude dueled through strong fractions in the Oklahoma Derby, put away his rivals, then battled back when approached by Texas Chrome.

“He came out of it good,” Burchell said. “He ate up last night. I think he’s learning a little more and a little more each trip. He’s still fairly lightly raced. He ran four times this year and three times as a 2-year-old. But he’s doing well. We’ll go back to Churchill and figure out where we’re going to go next. I may try to find a spot at Churchill.”

Burchell won the 2012 Remington Park Oaks with Sticks Wondergirl. The “Sticks” in the names of both horses represent the nickname of the late Alvin Haynes, who co-owned Sticks Wondergirl.

Burchell said Sticksstatelydude is the last horse he has in training, and he plans to see his career through before setting up shop at a crop farm inherited by his wife. Burchell said two of his wife’s college roommates are partners in Sticksstatelydude, as is Brad Ward, a resident of Oklahoma.

“My wife gave me a hall pass until he’s done [racing],” said Burchell.

Sticksstatelydude won an allowance in July at Belmont Park and one start before the Oklahoma Derby finished a troubled fourth as the favorite in the Grade 3 Smarty Jones at Parx.