PRIVMAN: Cal Chrome a 'go' in Hollywood Derby

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by RockHardTen1985

Who do you think should be 3yr old champ and HOY this year?

I have no strong opinion on those.

If I had a gun to my head though, even though I know Shared Belief is the better horse, I'd probably give it to Chrome.

Bayern, he's had too many crappy starts, and was gifted the BCC. Remember, I like that horse too, as he was my Derby pick after Shared Belief went down.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I have no strong opinion on those.

If I had a gun to my head though, even though I know Shared Belief is the better horse, I'd probably give it to Chrome.

Bayern, he's had too many crappy starts, and was gifted the BCC. Remember, I like that horse too, as he was my Derby pick after Shared Belief went down.

I also think Shared Belief is much better then California Chrome.

[Indian Charlie]

I guess I can't always be right.

[FATPIANO]

Bayern Top-Ranked U.S.-Based Horse in World
By Blood-Horse Staff November 13, 2014 10:03 AM 21 CommentsRacing, International, Breeders' Cup, West Region
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Breeders' Cup Classic winner Bayern
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 ShareWith his victory in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park, Bayern moved into a tie for sixth on the Longines World's Best Race Horse Rankings.

The rankings listed on the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities website give Bayern a 125 rating, which is tied for sixth with Idee Deutsches Derby (Ger-I) winner Sea the Moon and Qatar Prix d l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) winner Treve. Bayern is the highest-rated dirt horse in the world and highest rated U.S.-based horse.


Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...#ixzz3Iz3xPtaK

[Indian Charlie]

IF Bayern had had Shared Belief's trip in the BCC, he'd just about now cross the finish line.

[geeker2]

CAC problem on the turf will be Espinoza. He only about a 10% route turf rider. He seems to always find a way to get his horses in trouble.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Indian Charlie

I guess I can't always be right.

If Shared Belief pulled Chromes trip he wins the Classic. Im not sure he is that much better then Bayern though, especially at 9f.

[Pants II]

If you're making a change of rider for a turf race... the obvious choice is John R.

[geeker2]

Originally Posted by Pants II

If you're making a change of rider for a turf race... the obvious choice is John R.

This year stats Turf routes

JR 16%
Smith 17%
Joel 19%

[Kasept]

CALIFORNIA CHROME BREEZES HALF-MILE IN 52 FLAT ON TURF

Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner California Chrome made his first appearance of the year at Del Mar on Sunday morning, breezing a half-mile on the turf in 52 seconds under regular jockey Victor Espinoza with trainer Art Sherman looking on from the second level of the grandstand.

California Chrome is nominated to both the $300,000 Hollywood Derby on grass and the $200,000 Native Diver on Polytrack on Saturday, November 29 at Del Mar. Sunday’s workout, the first for California Chrome on turf, was to determine his affinity for the surface and help in the stakes decision.

“I was satisfied with the work,” Sherman said at a news conference an hour later. “Victor said (California Chrome) didn’t know if he was going to work or gallop because he’d never been on the grass before. But Victor said he felt smooth underneath him and that was my main concern.”

If California Chrome runs next Saturday, he will be the seventh Kentucky Derby winner to race at Del Mar after winning the Run For The Roses in the 75-year history of the track.

Sherman said a final decision regarding which race would likely come on Wednesday when entries are taken, but stuck to previously expressed priorities.

“I’d love to run him on the grass,” Sherman said.

With an estimated crowd of 500 watching, California Chrome was given the opportunity for a solo run over the Jimmy Durante Turf Course. He entered the course from a gate just past the finish line, his chestnut colt glistening in the early morning sun.

The colt jogged easily around the clubhouse turn to the backstretch, then broke off from the accompanying pony and started the half-mile work. The turf course “dogs” (marker cones) were well out from the inner rail to protect the surface and the work was conducted more than halfway toward the outer rail.

Track clockers had splits of :13.80 and :26.60 for the first two furlongs and :52.00 for the half-mile, meaning a final quarter in :25.40 seconds. Espinoza had California Chrome well in hand the entire way and clockers labeled it “breezing,” an assessment not routinely accorded on the Southern California circuit