California Chrome: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia


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Bred in California, the [[chestnut (coat)|chestnut-colored]] horse was named for his flashy [[horse markings|white markings]], called "chrome" by horse aficionados. He was bred and originally owned by Perry Martin from [[Yuba City, California]], and Steve Coburn of [[Topaz Lake, Nevada]], who named their partnership [[DAP Racing]], standing for "Dumb Ass Partners"—a tongue-in-cheek response to a passerby who questioned their wisdom in purchasing California Chrome's [[Glossary of equestrian terms#D|dam]], Love the Chase. In 2015, Coburn sold his minority share to [[Taylor Made Farm]], and a new ownership group, California Chrome, LLC, was formed. The horse is trained by the father–son team of [[Art Sherman|Art and Alan Sherman]]. Dedicated fans—called "Chromies"—actively supported California Chrome, who has been called "the people's horse".

As a two-year-old, the horse ran inconsistently until teamed with [[jockey]] [[Victor Espinoza]]. The rapport that developed between the pair led to a six-win streak in 2013–2014. After winning the [[San Felipe Stakes]] and [[Santa Anita Derby]], California Chrome was the [[morning line]] favorite for the Kentucky Derby. Critics who downplayed his chances of winning were proven wrong when California Chrome won by {{frac|1|3|4}} lengths even though Espinoza [[Glossary of North American horse racing#E|eased]] him for the final {{convert|70|yards}}. In the Preakness, he fended off two strong challengers in the [[Glossary of North American horse racing#H|homestretch]] and won by {{frac|1|1|2}} [[horse length|lengths]]. He then shipped to [[Belmont Park]] with hopes of winning the [[United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing|Triple Crown]] in the [[2014 Belmont Stakes]], but was stepped on by the horse next to him at the start, tearing some tissue from his right front heel. With no one aware of his injury until the race was over, he finished fourth in a [[Glossary of North American horse racing#D|dead heat]]. After healing and pasture rest, he ran in the 2014 [[Breeders' Cup Classic]], finishing third, a [[Horse length#Other measures|neck]] behind the winner. California Chrome returned to his winning form in his first start on a [[Grass#Sports turf|turf]] course in the [[Hollywood Derby]] in late November. California Chrome won many accolades and awards in 2014: The [[California State Legislature]] unanimously passed a resolution recognizing his outstanding performance, and the city of [[Fresno, California|Fresno]] proclaimed October 11, 2014, as "California Chrome Day" in a ceremony at the [[Big Fresno Fair|fairgrounds]] racetrack. He won the 2014 [[Secretariat Vox Populi Award]], his Kentucky Derby win was awarded the [[National Thoroughbred Racing Association Moment of the Year|NTRA "Moment of the Year"]], and he won [[Eclipse Award]]s for [[American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse]] and [[American Horse of the Year]].

California Chrome's 2015 season was tumultuous. He began the year with second-place finishes in the [[San Antonio Stakes]] and Dubai World Cup. He then was shipped to the United Kingdom to train for the [[Prince of Wales's Stakes]] at [[Royal Ascot]] but was scratched a few days prior to the race due to a hoof bruise. Upon returning to the US in July 2015, he was diagnosed with bruising on his [[limbs of the horse|cannon bone]]s, which ended his 2015 season. Shortly thereafter, Coburn sold his ownership interest.<!--already mentioned in paragraph 1 that it was to Taylor Made Farm--> After a rest of several months, he returned to training with Sherman at [[Los Alamitos Race Course]] and regained his form with a six-race winning streak in 2016 which included Grade I wins in the Dubai World Cup, the [[Pacific Classic]], and the [[Awesome Again Stakes]] before suffering a narrow loss to [[Arrogate]] in the Breeders' Cup Classic. He again won the Horse of the Year, Moment of the Year, and Vox Populi awards in 2016. Following the [[Pegasus World Cup]] in January 2017, he retired to [[stud farm|stud]].