Allen Jerkens - Giant Killer

Allen Jerkens – Giant Killer

Joseph Di Rienzi

Harry Allen Jerkens (1929 – 2015) is a Thoroughbred Museum and Racing Hall of Fame inductee who is most known as the conditioner of horses who were able to upset Kelso, Buckpasser and Secretariat  – three of the best to race in the 20^th century (and among my favorites). In this piece, I will look at the horses and circumstances that enabled Jerkens to fashion these surprising victories.

H. Allen Jerkens
(Barbara D. Livingston photo)

Allen Jerkens grew up on Long Island, NY and had his introduction to caring for horses through his father who owned a riding academy. Getting his license in 1950 at the age of 21, Jerkens had his greatest success as the private trainer for financier Jack Dreyfus Jr.’s Hobeau Farm. The stable raced horses of unfashionable pedigrees or who were castoffs after under achieving for more established outfits. Jerkens, an old school trainer, was a strong believer in racing when his horses were fit and frequently would run them back in short intervals between starts. Jerkens had a stern exterior demeanor but was known to be generous to his loyal staff.

The first major runner campaigned by Jerkens was the Hobeau Farm homebred Beau Purple. Originally conditioned by George P. Odom, the speedy son of Beau Gar had won the Derby Trial in 1960. However, an injury kept him out of running in the year’s Kentucky Derby. After being lightly raced as a four-year-old in 1961, Beau Purple was given to Jerkens to train (along with all the other Hobeau horses) midway through 1962. Entered in the 1¼ mile Suburban Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack, Beau Purple, assigned a modest 115 lb., was facing the two time Horse of the Year Kelso (lugging 132 lb.) and the previous year’s three-year-old champion Carry Back (at 126 lb.) in the four horse field. Beau Purple came into the Suburban with the reputation of a speedy but erratic racehorse. What no one but Allen Jerkens seemed to know was that if left alone on the lead, Beau Purple’s courage would increase, and his pedigree would carry him as far as racehorses needed to travel. In the Suburban, Beau Purple set a moderate pace and met the challenge of Kelso winning by 2½ lengths in new track record time with Carry Back finishing last. Jerkens, a strapping individual, let his emotions take over as he was seen weeping for joy in the winner’s circle.

Within two weeks, this trio were re-matched in the 1¼ mile Monmouth Handicap. Beau Purple (117 lb.), being pressed this time, faltered, but Carry Back (124 lb.) drew clear to defeat Kelso (130 lb.) by 3 lengths. Kelso did not contest the Brooklyn Handicap, but Beau Purple (117 lb.), finding his courage again, led all the way besting his recently set track record for a 1¼ mile with Carry Back (127 lb.) finishing fourth.

Beau Purple faced Kelso again in the 1¼ mile Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park and, under equal weights, faded to fifth place beaten a total of 13 lengths as the great gelding won easily by 4½ lengths over the presumptive sophomore champion Jaipur. Kelso, Carry Back and Beau Purple met twice again in the fall, the first time in the 1½ mile Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont on turf. Under equal weights, Beau Purple, defied his critics that claimed he needed weight concessions to win, leading all the way defeating the pursuing Kelso by 2 lengths and setting a new course record in the process with Carry Back fifth. In the climatic 1½ mile Washington D. C. International (also run on grass), Kelso’s handlers, determined not to let Beau Purple “steal another race”, sent Kelso after the latter early in the race. He ran that rival into the ground, fought off Carry Back’s charge in the stretch but was unable to withstand the closing kick of the French representative Match II who defeated Kelso by 1½ lengths. Beau Purple hopelessly beaten in his 20^th year start finished eleventh.

Kelso and Beau Purple had their final meeting at the start of 1963 at Hialeah Park. In the 1¼ mile Widener Handicap, Kelso under 131 lb. for the third time could not catch Beau Purple (at 126 lb.), who, in what would be his final race, led all the way defeating the former by 2½ lengths.

Allen Jerkens had the next opportunity to build on his “Giant Killer” reputation in the summer of 1967 when Ogden Phipps’ mighty Buckpasser was trying to capture the Handicap Triple. The four-year-old son of Tom Fool had won the 1 mile Metropolitan Handicap toting 130 lb. and the Suburban Handicap under 133 lb. Asked to carry 136 lb. in the Brooklyn Handicap, Buckpasser was facing some of the same horses he defeated in the previous two legs. Included in the field was Hobeau Farm’s Handsome Boy, who just like Beau Purple was sired by Beau Gar and trained by Allen Jerkens. He had raced indifferently the last two years until he won the Nassau County Stakes in June at Aqueduct. After the Suburban in which he finished fourth, Handsome Boy won the Amory L. Haskell Handicap at Monmouth Park a week before the Brooklyn. Carrying 116 lb. and at odds 5-1, Handsome Boy, following the same prescription as Beau Purple used five years earlier went straight to lead, set very fast fractions and kept going to win by an astounding 8 lengths over Buckpasser in nearly track record time.

Attempting to go two levels better on giant slaying, Jerkens had Handsome Boy face Buckpasser again, this time at equal weights in the Woodward Stakes. Entered in this contest were two other titans of the turf in sophomores Damascus and Dr. Fager. Billed as “The Race of the Century”, the 1967 Woodward saw Damascus sweep clear to defeat Buckpasser by 10 lengths with Dr. Fager a close behind third. Handsome Boy, no match for this trio, finished fourth beaten a total of over 23 lengths.

Allen Jerkens reached his apotheosis as the architect of “shockers” in 1973 when two different trainees of his defeated the immortal Secretariat. Three weeks after his Triple Crown success, Secretariat had traveled to Chicago, IL to win an invitational race at Arlington Park. The son of Bold Ruler ran next in Whitney Stakes against older horses in early August as a prep for the Travers Stakes. Saratoga Racetrack has long held the appellation of “The Graveyard of Champions” (since Man o’ War’s defeat by Upset in 1919), and Secretariat met his “Upset” in the personage of Hobeau Farm’s Onion, a four-year-old gelding, a good sprinting allowance horse. Having placed in three stakes races early in the year, Onion, was very sharp in winning an allowance race at Saratoga earlier in the week of the Whitney in track record time. Jerkens, ever the opportunist, entered him in the race where he went off the second choice at odds 5-1. The truth is Onion did not win the Whitney; Secretariat lost it. He was trapped on the rail the entire race and never had the opportunity to extend his stride, losing by a length to his older foe. In the aftermath of the Whitney, Secretariat was declared to have a fever that would force him to miss the Travers Stakes.

Onion faced Secretariat once more in the inaugural Marlboro Cup Handicap which attracted a stellar field at Belmont Park in September. Fully recovered from his fever, Secretariat tracked the pace of his stablemate (and fellow champion) Riva Ridge before powering to victory by 3½ lengths in record time for the 9 furlong race with Onion finishing fourth beaten a total of 12 lengths.

Onion continued to race till age seven without ever winning another stakes race as he gradually descended back into obscurity. However, later in 1973, another Hobeau Farm horse trained by Allen Jerkens would gain notoriety by defeating Secretariat and Riva Ridge in respective races.

Unlike today’s era of protecting breeding values, owners in those days raced their prized horses. Secretariat was back in action soon after the Marlboro, actually quicker than planned. The now 1½ mile Woodward Stakes saw both Riva Ridge and Secretariat in the entries, two weeks after the Marlboro. Riva Ridge was the intended starter if the track was fast, whereas Secretariat’s connections were planning to race him on turf for the remainder of his career. However, the Belmont track came up sloppy on Woodward day, and Riva Ridge was scratched. Secretariat, who had not been trained vigorously, represented the stable in the race. In the field was Prove Out a four-year-old castoff recently purchased by Hobeau Farm. Sired by Graustark out of a legendary King Ranch family that traced back to Triple Crown winner, Assault, Prove Out had showed flashes of brilliance but was inconsistent due to unsoundness. In his first races for Jerkens, he won some allowance races, but prior to the Woodward he was seventh with an excuse in the Chesapeake Handicap at Bowie Racetrack in Maryland. In the Woodward Stakes, Prove Out (at odds 16-1) took the lead early, relinquished it to Secretariat down the backstretch, but to everyone’s surprise he regained it in the stretch and drew out to a shocking but impressive win. Secretariat was second, 4½ lengths behind Prove Out’s wake.

Secretariat made the final two starts of his illustrious career on turf winning spectacularly both the Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont Park and the Canadian International Championship at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada. On the same weekend as Secretariat’s finale in Canada, Riva Ridge bowed out in the 2 mile Jockey Club Gold Cup in which Prove Out was also entered. Demonstrating his Woodward victory was no fluke, the son of Graustark vied with Riva Ridge for the early lead. Showing his distance loving pedigree, Prove Out raced Riva Ridge into submission before drawing out to win by 4¾ lengths with Riva Ridge fading to sixth. Unlike Onion, Prove Out was meant to be a top class racehorse. He raced briefly as a five-year-old in 1974 winning a stakes race and placing in two others before an injury forced his retirement.

Allen Jerkens who was affectionately called “The Chief”, by racetrack employees, passed away in 2015 at age 85. In 2017, the New York Racing Association renamed the King’s Bishop Stakes (whom Jerkens himself trained) the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes. The 7 furlong race is run annually at Saratoga, a fitting venue where “The Giant Killer” slew his greatest giant. 

Arrogate: Superhorse or Enigma

Arrogate: Superhorse or Enigma

Joseph Di Rienzi

On June 2, 2020, there was distressing news that the champion racehorse Arrogate had died unexpectedly at the age of seven at Juddmonte Farms in Kentucky where he had been standing stud. The passing of such a prominent thoroughbred has brought forth much consternation over this loss to his owner Prince Khalid bin Abdullah and the breeding industry in that Arrogate was completing only his third season as a stallion. Many observers cited his outstanding record and their opinion of his greatness. Not to show any disrespect to a fallen hero, I will examine Arrogate’s racing career in detail, showing that it can be divided into three parts - early, middle and final. In each we will see a very different race animal which makes a critique of Arrogate’s overall ability challenging. He can be summed up, paraphrasing Winston Churchill, as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma”.   

Foaled in 2013 at Clearsky Farms in Kentucky, Arrogate was a son of Unbridled’s Song from the mare Bubbler. He was a $560,000 yearling purchase that was sent to Bob Baffert to train because Juddmonte wanted to have a West Coast presence to its stable. The tall gray colt did not start as a juvenile, and, in his initial outing, he was a closing third in a 6 furlong maiden race at Los Alamitos Racecourse in early June 2016. Appreciating added distance, Arrogate broke his maiden at Santa Anita Park and then won two allowance races (at Santa Anita and then at Del Mar Racetrack) all at 8½ furlongs. In these victories, Arrogate showed ability without being especially dazzling.

Taking a bold leap, Bob Baffert sent the tall gray colt east to Saratoga Racetrack to contest the Travers Stakes in late August. In the thirteen strong field for “The Mid-Summer’s Derby” were Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator, Belmont Stakes hero Creator, classic placed Gun Runner, Jim Dandy Stakes victor Laoban and another Baffert trainee in American Freedom. Arrogate was perceived the weaker half of the entry in that Rafael Bejarano who had ridden him in his three West Coast victories chose instead to hop aboard American Freedom. In his absence, Mike Smith was given the leg up on Arrogate.

There have been many memorable renewals of the Travers Stakes over its long and storied history. In some there was great drama in terms of the contests between rivals such as Jaipur and Ridan (in 1962), and Affirmed and Alydar (1978), or powerful victories such as Wajima (1975) and General Assembly (1979), but I daresay, no one was prepared for the performance they witnessed in 2016. On a fast Saratoga surface, Arrogate (at 11-1 odds) broke from the no. 1 post position and vied for the early lead with American Freedom and Laoban. Taking command around the clubhouse turn, Mike Smith gave the big gray a loose rein enabling him to set fast fractions. Any thought he would come back to the field was dispelled at the top of the stretch as Arrogate was full of run and drew out to a record 13½ lengths breaking the stakes and track record in the process. Finishing second was American Freedom, and third was Gun Runner another 1½ lengths further back. Creator was far behind in seventh place, and Exaggerator finished eleventh.

Arrogate’s victory was so beyond anything previously shown in his brief career that observers did not know if he would prove to be a one race wonder or the next racing superstar. After this other worldly effort, Baffert chose to bring his trainee to the Breeders’ Cup Classic held in November at Santa Anita Park on workouts alone. 

The Classic had a nine horse field headed by the fan favorite California Chrome who was trying to complete a perfect season with Arrogate considered his main adversary. Other entries included major stakes performers Frosted, Hoppertunity, Effinex and Keen Ice. At post time, California Chrome was the 9-10 favorite, but Arrogate, at 8-5 odds, was installed the strong second choice.

After the break, Victor Espinoza sent “Chrome” to the front followed by Melatonin. Arrogate, starting from the no. 9 post, was not urged forward as he was in the Travers by Mike Smith but took a rating position in third place a couple of lengths behind the leader. The first three positions were unchanged down the backstretch as California Chrome was running comfortably on the lead. Around the far turn, Smith angled Arrogate inside of Melatonin as he took aim at California Chrome. Down the stretch, California Chrome continued to stride out purposefully, and although Arrogate was under a drive on the outside, it appeared he was not gaining. That changed just before the finish when the big son of Unbridled’s Song leveled out as only the really good horses do and thrusted himself forward to pass Chrome for an astonishing ½ length victory. The magnitude of the performance of the top two finishers was exemplified in that Keen Ice checked in 10¾ lengths further back in third place.

For Prince Khaled who has had so many top class runners in Europe and turf champions in the U. S., this Classic victory ranks up with his stable’s 2003 Belmont Stakes victory of Empire Maker. Subsequently, Arrogate was voted the Eclipse Champion Male Three-Year-Old with California Chrome the Older Dirt Male Champion and (despite losing the Classic) Horse of the Year.

In addition to serving as a fitting finale to the year’s racing, the Breeders’ Cup Classic was now also positioned to be a lead in to a newly inaugurated race, the $12 million Pegasus World Cup run the following January at 9 furlongs at Gulfstream Park. The purse money insured it would supplant the Classic as the richest race in North America. The 2017 Pegasus succeeded in its first year of attracting the two best horses in training from 2016 – California Chrome and Arrogate. It was hoped they would duplicate their dramatic stretch duel in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Despite California Chrome’s 2016 Horse of the Year award, Arrogate was installed the odds-on favorite. Breaking from the inside post, Mike Smith hustled Arrogate to gain an inside position just behind the leaders, while Victor Espinoza was forced to go wide around the clubhouse turn, a consequence of breaking from the far outside. Down the backstretch, Arrogate and California Chrome were racing in third and fourth place, respectively, their riders eyeing each other. The anticipation of another stretch duel evaporated when Smith asked Arrogate to go after the leaders, and Espinoza was unable to get Chrome to match strides with his rival. Midway around the final turn, Arrogate seized the lead as Chrome faltered. The last part of the race was a procession as the tall gray thundered clear, winning by 4¾ lengths, setting a new track record. California Chrome, obviously past his peak, tired to be ninth in his final career start.

Arrogate winning the 2017 Pegasus World Cup
(Eclipse Sportswire)

Next for Arrogate, who now was receiving accolades as the best horse in ages, was the Dubai World Cup  in late March. In the 1¼ mile race, he was facing Gun Runner who was turning into a formidable racehorse himself. The chestnut son of Candy Ride had won the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs, in late November 2016, leading all the way for a 2¾ length victory. After being denied entry into the Pegasus World Cup, the Steve Asmussen trainee tuned up for the Dubai World Cup with a powerful 5¾ length victory in the Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park.

On a rare muddy surface, a field of fourteen were sent on their way in the Dubai World Cup. Much was made of Arrogate’s beginning in this race. He did break slowly and then was bumped so that Mike Smith had to take him back and settle the big colt in last place. However, Arrogate never lost contact with the field, and down the backstretch, Smith was able to place him in the pack waiting for the opportunity to unleash his run. That came heading for the final turn as Gun Runner had forged to the front. Using his giant strides, Arrogate quickly closed the gap in the stretch and drew clear to win, almost comfortably by 2½ lengths. Gun Runner in a good, but overshadowed effort, easily held second.

Now hailed as a 21^st century Man o’ War, there seemed no challengers to Arrogate’s supremacy. Since August 2016, he had, in the Travers, Breeders’ Cup Classic, Pegasus World Cup, and the Dubai World Cup, put together a string of performances that were comparable to the best of any other thoroughbred’s achievements. If Arrogate’s connections had decided to retire him after his Dubai race, he would rank near the top of all time U. S. champions. However, it was decided to continue racing the colt and set sights on a repeat try in the Breeder’s Cup Classic, run for the first time at Del Mar. It was the sporting thing to do, but, as we will see, it will sully his legacy. 

Arrogate made his first start after the Dubai World Cup in the San Diego Handicap in late July. With the Breeders’ Cup scheduled at Del Mar, his remaining races – the San Diego, Pacific Classic and Breeders’ Cup Classic would all be at the seaside track. Favored at 1-20 in the five horse field, the son of Unbridled’s Song (carrying top weight of 126 lb.) shocked everyone with a listless performance finishing fourth after trailing early, beaten over 15 lengths. The San Diego victor, Accelerate carrying 117 lb., who at the time was a consistent, if not top tier racehorse, led all the way for an 8½ length victory. (This was the biggest upset at Del Mar since Dare and Go stopped Cigar’s 16 race win streak in the 1996 Pacific Classic. It also brought to mind that Silver Charm, another Baffert trained Dubai World Cup victor, finished a distant fifth in the 1998 San Diego Handicap.)

After some soul searching, Arrogate’s connections concluded he was not quite fit for the San Diego as they had been too tender with him since his race in Dubai. In the Pacific Classic, under equal weight conditions, Arrogate faced Accelerate again, but there another Baffert trained runner, Collected, who was coming into the race extremely sharp. The son of City Zip started 2017 with three impressive stakes victories in California. Arrogate was still the odds-on favorite with Collected and Accelerate almost co-second choices in the seven horse field. At the start, Collected assumed the lead, followed by Accelerate and Arrogate. The pace was comfortable as Collected ran down the backstretch tracked by Accelerate with Arrogate a couple of lengths back in third. Around the far turn, Accelerate made a challenge for the lead as Mike Smith tried to rouse Arrogate. In the stretch, Collected pulled away from Accelerate, but Arrogate was able to mount a belated challenge that failed by a ½ length at the wire. Accelerate held third place, some 3¾ lengths back.

With a 1-2 finish, you would think Bob Baffert would be overjoyed. However, Arrogate had been in such high esteem, that even with the strong effort he put in the Pacific Classic, it was considered a disappointment. A theory began to be posed that the son of Unbridled’s Song did not take to the Del Mar surface. It was pointed that prior to last year’s Travers Stakes, he did win an allowance race at Del Mar, but it was, by Arrogate’s standards, a workmanlike effort. In the aftermath, Baffert resolved to press on to the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but he made sure his “A” horse would be joined by Collected.

While Arrogate was struggling to re-capture his best form, Gun Runner, whom he easily dispatched in the Dubai World Cup, was becoming a racing machine. The sculpted son of Candy Ride ran in three 9 furlong major stakes after his return to the U. S. and pulverized his fields in the Stephen Foster Handicap, the Whitney and the Woodward Stakes. In these races, the burnished chestnut won by 7, 5¼ and 10¼ lengths, respectively, in strong final times. His blowout victories coupled with Arrogate’s shocking defeats at Del Mar, led people to believe what was unthinkable after the Dubai World Cup, that Gun Runner was now the best horse in training in the U. S.

All signs pointed to a memorable renewal of the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Arrogate, who had become an enigma, was favored at post time, although there were opinions that ranged from “back in top form” to “a shell of his old self” in terms of how he would fare in the race. His principal opposition was Gun Runner. The questions surrounding the striking chestnut was his 0 for 3 record at the Classic’s 1¼ mile distance and his lack of familiarity with the Del Mar surface condition. Bob Baffert was by no means single handed in the Classic as he saddled Collected and three-year-old West Coast who had scored impressive victories in the Travers Stakes (just as Arrogate accomplished last year) and the Pennsylvania Derby. To add an international flavor to the race, the English and Irish Guineas winner, Churchill, was entered but was given a difficult task in making his initial dirt start.

For Arrogate things went awry quickly as he ducked in from his no. 1 post and had to be steadied near the rear of the field. Jockey Florent Geroux took the same approach he used during Gun Runner’s winning streak in that he would let his mount run freely and see if anyone could out sprint them. By the stands the first time, Gun Runner had a narrow lead over Collected with Churchill saving ground in third positon and West Coast to his outside. Down the backstretch, Gun Runner was a ½ length in front of Collected, setting fast fractions with West Coast and Churchill a few lengths behind. Mike Smith had Arrogate settled between horses in eighth place, hoping for a Dubai-like rally. As they headed around the far turn, the two leaders separated themselves from the rest of the field as the Classic turned into a match race. At the top of the stretch, it appeared that Collected had a slight advantage, but when Geroux roused Gun Runner, he slowly edged away. At the finish, Gun Runner was 2¼ lengths in front of Collected who held second by 1¼ lengths over West Coast. Arrogate, who made a tepid move in the stretch, finished in a dead heat for fifth place.

The Classic was the final start for Arrogate as he began stud at Juddmonte Farms in 2018. He retired with an ambiguous legacy. Until the Travers Stakes of 2016, he was a promising, but undistinguished runner. Then from August 2016 till March 2017, his performances ranked with the best of modern runners. However, his last three starts, all at Del Mar, brought into question his durability and consistency. His career total of 7 wins from 11 starts and prize money of over $17 million currently place Arrogate at the top of North American based runners in earnings.

The final determination on Arrogate’s legacy will be the offspring produced from his short stud career. The great European racehorse Dubai Millennium died after only one year at stud. But in that singular crop, he sired Dubawi who was an Irish classic winner and is now a world class stallion. Perhaps the accomplishments of the sons and daughters of Arrogate will put to rest to riddle of assessing their sire’s greatness.  

The People's Horses: Part IV b, California Chrome

The People’s Horses, part IV b
California Chrome

Joseph Di Rienzi

This will conclude my series on “The People’s Horses”. In part IV a, I examined the racing career of that bright chestnut California Chrome through 2014, his three-year-old year. Here, I will follow Chrome through his retirement in early 2017 at age six.

California Chrome’s owners plotted an ambitious schedule for their star’s four-year-old year that would take him abroad and have him race on both dirt and turf. Unfortunately, most of their plans were for naught. California Chrome made his 2015 debut in early February in the 9 furlong San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita Park in which he faced once again Shared Belief. Chrome may have been the object of his legion of fans’ affections, however, the betting public made Shared Belief the favorite. Those who backed the slender gelding were rewarded for wagering with their minds and not their hearts. In a race that at one point looked like a titanic duel between Shared Belief and California Chrome ended with Mike Smith easing the former up just before the finish for a 1½ length victory. So complete were the top two finishers domination of the race that the sturdy campaigner Hoppertunity finished third, 6½ lengths further back.

After the San Antonio, California Chrome was sent to the Middle East in late March for the 1¼ mile Dubai World Cup (run now on a traditional dirt course) in which he was the star attraction. The pride of California raced wide all the way but came into the stretch looming boldly on the outside. However, despite Victor Espinoza’s efforts, Chrome was not able to withstand the closing thrust of the Dubai raced Prince Bishop who had rallied from last place to draw clear by 2¾ lengths.

The rest of the year was frustrating for California Chrome’s connections. He was shipped to England to run in the Prince of Wales Stakes at the Royal Ascot Meeting in June. However, he never made it to the starting gate as Chrome was forced to scratch due to a bruised hoof. Sent back to the U. S. to prepare for the Arlington Million Stakes run in August, it was discovered he had now bruising on his cannon bones that forced him not only to miss this race but curtail any more racing in 2015. So, his four-year-old season reads an abbreviated 2 seconds from 2 starts.

What a difference 2016 made for California Chrome as he returned to racing sound and fit with a change in ownership. One of his two DAP Racing owners, Steve Coburn, had sold his interest to Taylor Made Farm who, in turn, sold shares in the 2014 Horse of the Year to future breeders and together with the remaining original partner, Perry Martin, formed the syndicate California Chrome LLC (which raced in  the colors of silver in red trim). Still trained by the affable Art Sherman (with significant assistance from his son Alan), Chrome began his five-year-old campaign on a positive note at Santa Anita with a competent 1¼ length victory in the San Pasqual Stakes over Imperative with Hoppertunity third, another length behind. Traveling to the UAE for a second try at the Dubai World Cup, he prepped by winning a 1¼ mile condition race (carrying 132 lb.) by an easy 2 lengths.

On Dubai World Cup night, Chrome was joined in the starting gate by fellow American raced horses Keen Ice, Frosted, Hoppertunity and Candy Boy. Keen Ice had upset Triple Crown winner American Pharoah [sic] in the previous year’s Travers Stakes. Frosted, just as California Chrome, had run earlier in Dubai, beginning the year with a facile victory in a stakes race. Hoppertunity had followed his third place finish in the San Pasqual with a victory in the San Antonio Stakes, and Candy Boy, under new ownership, had not started since finishing fourth in the 2015 Dubai World Cup.

In this year’s edition, California Chrome atoned for his second place finish in 2015 with an authoritative victory. Breaking from post 12, Chrome stayed wide and in the clear in third place until asked to run at the top of the stretch. The attractive chestnut then displayed his characteristic quick turn of foot which separated him from the field, and he cruised home to an impressive 3¾ length triumph. Finishing second was internationally raced Mubtaahij who was a neck in front of Hoppertunity. Frosted finished fifth, Candy Boy was seventh, and Keen Ice finished eighth. What was even more remarkable about California Chrome’s performance was the realization that Victor Espinoza’s saddle girth became loose soon after the start, and the jockey had to be preoccupied with the slipping equipment while riding his mount. In the race’s aftermath, it was clear that California Chrome was back at the top of his class.

Chrome made his first start since his Dubai World Cup triumph in late July at Del Mar Racetrack in the 8½ furlong San Diego Handicap. In the five horse field was Dortmund, the 2015 Santa Anita Derby winner, making his four-year-old debut. In a rousing race, California Chrome (carrying 126 lb. to Dortmund’s 121 lb.) tracked his adversary throughout the early part. Chrome made his challenge around the stretch turn, and the two Santa Anita Derby winners fought down the stretch together with Chrome prevailing by a ½ length at the finish.

The two San Diego Handicap principals returned for the 1¼ mile Pacific Classic Stakes at equal weights, and they were joined in the nine horse field by the race’s 2015 victress, multiple champion mare Beholder, as well as the reliable Hoppertunity. From the no. 1 post, Victor Espinoza sent Chrome right to the lead angling out from the rail and out footing both Beholder and Dortmund, respectively. These positions held the entire journey with Chrome bounding clear without being pressured at all. At the finish, the immensely popular chestnut was 5 lengths in front of Beholder who was 2¼ lengths ahead of Dortmund. Hoppertunity finished a length further back in fourth place. This dominating victory over a top class field was perhaps California Chrome’s greatest performance in his illustrious career.

Chrome used the 9 furlong Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita as his final race before the Breeders’ Cup Classic which would also be run at the Arcadia, CA racetrack on November 5^th. Dortmund returned for a third try against Chrome while Beholder chose to race against her own sex. California Chrome, again from an inside post position, broke fastest closely followed by Dortmund. The smaller but more muscular Chrome carrying 4 lb. more set a fast pace that the much taller Dortmund could not sustain. Establishing at the top of the stretch a 3½ length lead, Espinoza just let Chrome gallop down to the finish for a handy 2¼ length triumph. Dortmund, to his credit, continued on, easily finishing second 4½ lengths in front of Win the Space. In establishing himself with this facile victory, the clear favorite for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, California Chrome was also in a prime position to garner his second Horse of the Year honors. 

The Classic had a nine horse field. California Chrome was the favorite to complete a perfect season that saw its beginning in January. His main adversary appeared to be the lightly raced three-year-old Arrogate who trained up the Classic from his sensational Travers Stakes victory in late August at Saratoga Racetrack. Other entries included Frosted, Hoppertunity who had ventured east to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and major stakes winners Effinex and Keen Ice. At post time, California Chrome was the 9-10 favorite, but Arrogate, at 8-5 odds was installed the strong second choice.

After the break, Victor Espinoza sent Chrome to the front followed by Melatonin. Arrogate, breaking from the no. 9 post was not sent forward by Mike Smith as he did in the Travers but took a rating position in third place a couple of lengths behind the leader. The first three positions were unchanged down the backstretch as California Chrome was running comfortably on the lead. Around the far turn, Smith angled Arrogate inside of Melatonin as he took aim at California Chrome. Down the stretch, California Chrome continued to stride out purposefully, and although Arrogate was under a drive on the outside, it appeared he was not gaining. That changed just before the finish when the big gray son of Unbridled’s Song leveled out as only the really good horses do and thrusted himself forward to pass Chrome for an astonishing ½ length victory. The magnitude of the performance of the top two finishers was exemplified in that Keen Ice checked in 10¾ lengths further back in third place. Hoppertunity was fourth, and Melatonin finished fifth. Frosted in one of his poor races was sixth, and Effinex could do no better than seventh place.

For Juddmonte Farms, owner of Arrogate, who has had so many top class runners in Europe and turf champions in the U. S., this Classic victory ranks up with the stable’s 2003 Belmont Stakes victory of Empire Maker (over another “People’s Horse” in Funny Cide). Arrogate was subsequently voted the Eclipse Champion Male Three-Year-Old with California Chrome the Older Dirt Male Champion and (despite losing the Classic) Horse of the Year.

In addition to serving as a fitting finale to the year’s racing, the Breeders’ Cup Classic was now also positioned to be a lead in to a newly inaugurated race, the $12 million Pegasus World Cup run the following January at 9 furlongs at Gulfstream Park. The purse money insured it would supplant the Classic as the richest race in North America. The 2017 Pegasus World Cup had unique conditions. Limited to a field of twelve in which “stakeholders” purchased for $1 million an entry in the race they could use or sell. The Pegasus succeeded in its first year of attracting the two best horses in training from 2016 – California Chrome and Arrogate. It was hoped they would duplicate their dramatic stretch duel in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The rest of the field was decidedly below the top two. (Chrome, in a prep for the Pegasus, but also as a farewell to his California fans, had won in a canter the Winter Challenge Stakes in December 2016 at Los Alamitos Racecourse.)

Despite California Chrome’s 2016 Horse of the Year award and the assumption that the 9 furlong distance would be more favorable to him than Arrogate, the latter was installed the odds-on favorite. Breaking from the inside post, Mike Smith hustled Arrogate to gain an inside position just behind the leaders, while Victor Espinoza was forced to go wide around the clubhouse turn, a consequence of breaking from the far outside. Down the backstretch, Arrogate and California Chrome were racing in third and fourth place, respectively, their riders eyeing each other. The anticipation of another stretch duel evaporated when Smith asked Arrogate to go after the leaders, and Espinoza was unable to get Chrome to match strides with his rival. Into the stretch, Arrogate seized the lead as Chrome faltered. The last part of the race was a procession as the tall gray thundered clear, winning by 4¾ lengths setting a new track record. California Chrome, obviously past his peak, tired to be ninth in his final career start.

As I close the book on California Chrome’s racing career that spanned more than four seasons, it reads 16 wins from 27 starts and a gaudy $14.7 million in earnings.

Beginning stud duties at Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, KY in 2017, California Chrome was leased to a farm in Chile during the Northern American breeding off-season. Perhaps not impressed by the prices his yearlings were fetching at auction in 2019, members of the California Chrome syndicate announced that Chrome was sold to a Japanese stud farm much to the consternation of the multitudes of “Chromies” who came to visit him when he took up residence in Kentucky.

California Chrome at stud in Kentucky
(bloodhorse.com)

So as I come to the end of “The People’s Horses” series, I reflect that these popular thoroughbred heroes all rose from their humble beginnings (not one was bred in Kentucky). Each had tremendous success as three-year-olds (all were winners of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, as well as sophomore champions). Ironically, they all failed to complete the Triple Crown by losing the Belmont Stakes. But for the fans of Carry Back, Funny Cide, Smarty Jones and California Chrome, their defeats only enamored them more to their followers, who saw their struggle against the establishment as symbolic of the aspirations of everyday people to reach the stars.

The People's Horses: Part IV a, California Chrome

The People’s Horses, part IV a
California Chrome

Joseph Di Rienzi

This is part a. of the conclusion of my series on racehorses that have attracted wide followings based on their underdog background and their “little guy” human connections. Previous parts have looked at Carry Back, Funny Cide and Smarty Jones. Here I will examine the first two years of the racing career of, perhaps, the quintessential “people’s horse”- California Chrome.

The stuff of dreams - California Chrome was owned by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn in a partnership called DAP Racing (as in Dum Ass Partners Racing).  Martin is an applied physicist who runs a testing company while Coburn, the more outgoing, has been in various occupations including herding cattle. The partners bred the only mare they owned, Love the Chase, to the stallion Lucky Pulpit whose stud fee was $2,500. What Martin and Corburn got in 2011 was a stocky bright chestnut with white markings. Trained by veteran Art Sherman, California Chrome had an old school two-year-old campaign, starting in April at Hollywood Park in a 4½ furlong maiden race for California born foals. Finishing second, he would break his maiden in his second start in an identical race. Winning the restricted Graduation Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack, California Chrome then finished sixth but was beaten only a total of 2 lengths in the Del Mar Futurity. In his last start of 2013, he showed marked improvement under new rider Victor Espinoza winning the King Glorious Stakes by 6¼ lengths in a sharp final time.

At the start of 2014, California Chrome was already developing a devoted fan base. The bright chestnut with white blaze and white stocking feet started the year with a dominant win against Cal-breds in the California Cup Derby. He then ventured into open company in the San Felipe Stakes, where California Chrome led all the way for a 7¼ length victory in a sparkling final time. “Chrome”, as he was nicknamed, was compared favorably with Swaps, the greatest Cal-bred of all time, by his trainer Art Sherman who incredibly had served as Swaps’ exercise rider in the 1950’s.

In the Santa Anita Derby, California Chrome faced a field of seven rivals including the Robert B. Lewis Stakes victor Candy Boy and the Bob Baffert trained Hoppertunity who had won the Rebel Stakes in Arkansas in his previous race. Slightly bobbling at the start, California Chrome assumed a forward position by the first turn tracking the maiden Dublin Up. As the field headed for the far turn, Chrome went up to challenge the pace setter, but Candy Boy and Hoppertunity seemed poised just behind. However, as the field straightened out for the stretch run, Espinoza asked his mount for some run, and Chrome eagerly responded, putting distance between him and his pursuers. At the finish, California Chrome was an eased down 5¼ lengths ahead of Hoppertunity who was 3½ lengths in front of third finishing Candy Boy. The final time was excellent, and hopes were high for the Kentucky Derby. Not only did Chrome’s ownership team of Coburn and Martin predict a Derby victory but a Triple Crown sweep as well. These very un-aristocratic owners also revealed they had turned down a $6 million offer for 51% of California Chrome when the would-be buyer would not agree that Sherman remain the trainer. Thus, the horse continued to race in their purple and green DAP silks (with donkey drawn on the back of the rider’s jacket). 

All signs seem to point to California Chrome as the year’s Kentucky Derby hero. From the verve he showed in his training moves at Los Alamitos Racecourse in California where he was treated as a home town hero, to the withdrawal of Hoppertunity, seen by some as Chrome’s main opposition, due to an injury, this seemed to be Chrome’s Derby to lose. There were some doubts about California Chrome’s genetic makeup as regards its proclivity at the 1¼ mile Derby distance, but his ability to relax seemed to overcome that liability. At post time, he was the solid favorite with Wicked Strong, Danza, winner of the Arkansas Derby, and Candy Boy the only others at single digit odds in the nineteen horse field.

Under a perfect ride by Victor Espinoza, California Chrome assumed a forward position heading down the stretch the first time. He was tucked in third place around the clubhouse turn, but brought to the outside down the backstretch. A moderate pace was set by Uncle Sigh and Chitu. Around the far turn, Espinoza asked his mount to join the leaders as Samraat mounted a challenge from the outside. Just before the stretch, there were four runners across the track, but once in the straight it was all California Chrome as he bounded to the front establishing at one point a 5 length lead. Near the finish, Espinoza started easing him up so that at the wire, California Chrome was 1¾ lengths in front of longshot Commanding Curve. Danza also closed some ground to finish third, another 1¼ lengths further back, and Wicked Strong was fourth. The final time was on the slow side for a surface labeled fast.

California Chrome winning the 2014 Kentucky Derby
(Morry Gash/Associated Press)

The improbable dream had come true for Steve Coburn and Perry Martin and their one horse stable. Chrome’s affable conditioner Art Sherman, at 77 years, the oldest Derby winning trainer, who along with his son Alan, had taken this colt from obscurity to stardom, was the media darling in terms of his accessibility, humility and honesty. Victor Espinoza, who had ridden 2001 Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem, was in the midst of a career rejuvenation. For all involved, it was on to the Preakness Stakes.

The ten horse field for the second jewel of the Triple Crown had only California Chrome, Ride On Curlin (who finished seventh) and General a Rod (eleventh) as Derby alumni. Speedster Social Inclusion was entered as well as Bayern, a Bob Baffert trainee, who had in his short career finished third in the Arkansas Derby and most recently was demoted to second for interference after finishing first in the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs. 

Chrome went off the 1-2 favorite, and he ran a very similar race as in the Kentucky Derby. After a slight bobble at the start, he assumed third position on the outside down the backstretch as longshot Pablo Del Monte and the filly Ria Antonia vied for the lead. Around the turn, Espinoza again sent Chrome to challenge the leaders. He was joined on the outside by Social Inclusion who had been expected to set the pace. What looked like a good stretch duel dissipated quickly as Social Inclusion could not keep pace with California Chrome. Instead it was Ride On Curlin who made a stern challenge to the Derby winner, but under Espinoza’s urging, California Chrome held sway by 1¾ lengths. Social Inclusion held on to third place 6½ lengths further back but a head in front of General a Rod. Bayern was a non-factor in finishing ninth. The final time was good, and Chrome’s last 3/16 of a mile was run in a very respectable 19.19 seconds.

Now one step away from racing immortality, the fantasy was still alive for Chrome’s colorful and likeable connections. However, history was not on California Chrome’s side as a Triple Crown had not been won in 36 years, and there had been several outstanding horses who were in Chrome’s position that were unable to accomplish the feat.

Ten horses lined up to challenge the Triple Crown aspirant in the Belmont Stakes. Included were both Commanding Curve and Ride On Curlin, second place finishers in Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, respectively. The public made California Chrome the odds-on favorite, but Wicked Strong was the clear second choice. A horse that was attracting some attention, albeit at 9-1, was Robert S. Evans’ Tonalist, a handsome well conformed son of Tapit from a strong female family. Bypassing the first two classics, Tonalist prepped for the Belmont Stakes with an impressive 4 length victory in the 9 furlong Peter Pan Stakes defeating another Belmont participant in Commissioner.

From his no. 2 post position, California Chrome once again stumbled slightly at the start but advanced quickly along the inside to contend for the lead heading for the clubhouse turn. Around that turn, Espinoza took his mount back as Commissioner galloped to the lead with General a Rod in second and Chrome along the inside in third place. Just to Chrome’s outside was Tonalist who assumed a stalking position under Joel Rosario. The fractions were steady as Javier Castellano on Commissioner tried to take advantage of his mount’s stamina to control the race. Around the sweeping far turn, Tonalist went up to challenge, as Espinoza, knowing California Chrome’s tendency to race best on the outside, swung wide. At the top of the stretch, the race looked wide open with Commissioner clinging to the lead and General a Rod, Tonalist and California Chrome making challenges. In the stretch, Chrome just could not sustain his bid, and the race fell between Commissioner and Tonalist. At the finish, Tonalist prevailed by a head over the former. In third place, another length behind was Medal Count with California Chrome another ¾ of a length behind, dead heating with Wicked Strong for fourth place.

As in all failed Triple Crown bids, the response after the race was muted, and many in attendance were upset. In a break from tradition, Steve Coburn, co-owner of California Chrome did not take his horse’s defeat graciously but complained to all who would listen the unfairness of the Triple Crown series that allows horses like Tonalist (and Commissioner) to compete in the Belmont Stakes without running in the other classics. That said, there was a lot to like about the Belmont winner in that Tonalist’s dam sire, Pleasant Colony, was raced by Thomas Mellon Evans, the father of Tonalist’s owner. In another subtext, Pleasant Colony in 1981 was trying to complete the Triple Crown only to finish third in the Belmont to longshot Summing.

California Chrome took most of the summer off as his connections aimed for a fall campaign that would culminate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic held this year at Santa Anita Park on November 1^st. He was shipped back east for his first start since the Belmont Stakes to contest the Pennsylvania Derby. However, he drew (what for him) was considered the unfavorable no. 1 post and, trapped on the inside, showed no punch in the stretch in finishing sixth beaten over 7 lengths. Bayern (who would be known as an all or nothing horse) jumped out to an early lead and with no early challengers roared to a 5¾ length victory in track record time.

All the leading three-year-olds were entered in the Classic. Shared Belief, 2013 Two-Year-Old Champion, Derby and Preakness hero California Chrome, Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist and major stakes victors Bayern and V. E. Day all had showed top form at least some time this year. The still undefeated Shared Belief was installed the favorite over California Chrome and Tonalist. The Derby and Preakness winner was training strongly at his home base at Los Alamitos and was assigned, for him, a favorable outside post position.

What transpired in the running of the Classic did not crown a champion but produced one of the most controversial decisions in Breeders’ Cup history. Bayern broke inward from his no. 7 post position impeding Shared Belief who, in turn, bumped the speedy Moreno. As a result, Moreno was shuffled back, allowing Bayern to gain an uncontested lead. Shared Belief’s troubles were not over because after having being impeded at the start, he nearly clipped heels with a horse in the run to the clubhouse turn forcing jockey Mike Smith to steady his mount. The rest of the race was a merry-go-round with Bayern, the internationally raced Toast of New York and California Chrome unchanged in the first three positions the entire race. In the stretch, both Toast of New York and Chrome drove up to Bayern, but he just held on, finishing a nose in front the game English invader with the double classic winner a neck further behind. Finishing fourth in a heroic effort after all that happened at the beginning was Shared Belief, 3½ lengths behind the top trio. Tonalist, who could not make up significant ground on the speed favoring Santa Anita track, finished fifth. Moreno, completely taken out of his usual pace setting role by the bumping, finished fourteenth.

A long stewards’ inquiry resulted in no change in the order. With a chorus of boos descending from the stands, Bayern’s owner Kaleem Shah, trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Martin Garcia mutually accepted the Breeders’ Cup Classic trophy.

With three-year-old champion male and Horse of the Year honors still unsettled due to the Classic controversy, California Chrome’s team ran their star again before year’s end in the 9 furlong Hollywood Derby run on turf at Del Mar. Ostensibly, Chrome’s trainer Art Sherman wanted to see if his colt could handle a grass surface in preparation for a trip to Royal Ascot next year, but he also picked a relatively soft spot to enhance Chrome’s 2014 resume. Before an adoring crowd at Del Mar of “Chromies”, California Chrome did not disappoint, gliding to a 2 length victory. Whether this additional victory was enough to put California Chrome over the top in Eclipse voting cannot be ascertained, but the result was what his connections desired in that the charismatic Cal-bred chestnut was named both Champion Three-Year-Old Male and Horse of the Year.

(To be continued in part IV b.)