California Chrome Wins Derby[/b]
California Chrome pulled away down the straight for a dominant win at the 140th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Taking charge at the top of the lane, California Chrome and jockey Victor Espinoza made a decisive move and quickly sprinted clear. They finished the 1 1/4 miles (2,000 meters) in 2:03.66. The 5-2 favorite stretched his winning streak to five and Art Sherman, 77, became the oldest winning Derby trainer. It was the second Derby win for Espinoza, who rode War Emblem to victory in 2002. I thought he rode him perfect. I never gave him any instructions. I just said, you know this horse, go for it, Sherman said.
In a game dominated by millionaires and billionaires, this was a victory for the little guys. Owners Perry Martin and Steve Coburn bred an $8,000 mare to a $2,500 stallion to win America's most famous race with their one-horse stable. Espinoza had California Chrome sitting comfortably in third in the 19-horse field as Uncle Sigh and Chitu set the pace. California Chrome made his move on the final turn in tandem with Samraat. It looked like those two would decide the outcome, until California Chrome sped away, winning by 1¾ length. Long shot Commanding Curve rallied for second, with Danza third. Wicked Strong was fourth. California Chrome paid $7, $5.60 and $4.20. Commanding Curve, 37-1, returned $31.80 and $15.40, while Danza paid $6 to show.
In time-honored fashion, the Derby postscript nearly always comes with a sob story or two, and Danza is one of those with legitimate grievances to air. He was on the receiving end of a few bruising knocks during the early scrimmaging, while jockey Joe Bravo had to maneuver him around a thicket of horses to get a clear run down the stretch. He was never going to worry California Chrome at the business end of the race, but the losing deficit might not have been so pronounced had he enjoyed a less fraught journey. California Chrome has now notched five wins in his last five starts, and the manner of his victory prompted immediate speculation as to his chances of lifting the Triple Crown the next leg of which is at Pimlico in Maryland in two weeks' time.
California Chrome pulled away down the straight for a dominant win at the 140th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Taking charge at the top of the lane, California Chrome and jockey Victor Espinoza made a decisive move and quickly sprinted clear. They finished the 1 1/4 miles (2,000 meters) in 2:03.66. The 5-2 favorite stretched his winning streak to five and Art Sherman, 77, became the oldest winning Derby trainer. It was the second Derby win for Espinoza, who rode War Emblem to victory in 2002. I thought he rode him perfect. I never gave him any instructions. I just said, you know this horse, go for it, Sherman said.
In time-honored fashion, the Derby postscript nearly always comes with a sob story or two, and Danza is one of those with legitimate grievances to air. He was on the receiving end of a few bruising knocks during the early scrimmaging, while jockey Joe Bravo had to maneuver him around a thicket of horses to get a clear run down the stretch. He was never going to worry California Chrome at the business end of the race, but the losing deficit might not have been so pronounced had he enjoyed a less fraught journey. California Chrome has now notched five wins in his last five starts, and the manner of his victory prompted immediate speculation as to his chances of lifting the Triple Crown the next leg of which is at Pimlico in Maryland in two weeks' time.
