Texas Chrome eyes record for career earnings by Texas-bred

Texas Chrome has a chance to become the all-time leading Texas-bred earner before the year is out. He became his home state’s second millionaire, joining Groovy, on Saturday night at Lone Star Park, according to the Texas Thoroughbred Association, and success in upcoming stakes races would lift him past the $1,346,956 banked by Groovy, the late champion sprinter of 1987.

Danny Keene, who has raced Texas Chrome throughout his career, said this year’s ultimate objective for the horse is the Grade 1 Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs. Last year, the 1 1/8-mile Clark was run in late November and was worth $500,000.

“I like the distance of the Clark,” Keene said. “We’re going to give them a crack. That will be it for the year, and then we’ll give him a break until Oaklawn. But we’ll take it a race at a time.”

Keene and trainer Allen Milligan both said Texas Chrome is scheduled to run next in the $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Handicap on Aug. 5 in New Mexico. From there, the men have penciled in the $175,000 Governor’s Cup on Sept. 24 at Remington Park and the Grade 2, $200,000 Fayette on Oct. 28 at Keeneland, all 1 1/8-mile races leading up to the Clark.

Texas Chrome on Saturday night won the $50,000 Assault Stakes at a mile, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 100. He rallied from off the pace under Richard Eramia, catching Supermason and pushing his earnings to $1,020,762.

“The mile’s not his best distance, and we kind of had to urge him to get him going a little earlier than what he usually does,” Milligan said. “He’s just got all the heart in the world. He knows when it’s time to put his game face on.”

Milligan said Monday that Texas Chrome emerged from the Assault in good order, and if the decision is made to head to New Mexico, he likely would ship on July 31.

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