The fairy tale story of
California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit – Love The Chase) has continued on the biggest racing stage in the USA, with the colt claiming a dominant win in the
Kentucky Derby.
Taking charge at the top of the straight, California Chrome (5-2 fav) sprinted clear for rider Victor Espinoza to give the jockey his second Kentucky Derby win to go with his 2002 victory on War Emblem.
Art Sherman at 77 years old became the oldest trainer to win the Derby, 57 years after he travelled from California in a railroad boxcar as the trackwork rider and strapper for Derby winner Swaps.
He watched that race from the barn area. This time, he smelled red roses in the winner's circle on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
"It's been a long haul," Sherman said. "I'm just the same old Art Sherman, except I won the Kentucky Derby."
In a sport that can appear dominated by wealthy owners and regally bred horses, this was a victory for the battler. This is the fairy tale that anyone with dreams of owning a horse lives for. It highlights that on the racetrack, whether you have an oil well in the backyard or you live in a tent, everyone is equal of the racetrack.
Owners Perry Martin and Steve Coburn sent the dam of California Chrome “Love The Chase”, at that time valued at just $8,000, to “Lucky Pulpit” a stallion standing at a Service Fee of just $2,500. The resultant colt is California Chrome. It’s the only horse the owners have in racing.
"This is just a dream come true and a great birthday present," Steve Coburn said as he celebrated his 61st birthday.
Coburn said “California Chrome, (who extended his winning streak to five), would now head to the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes” in an attempt to become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the prestigious Triple Crown Race Series.
Art Sherman, who became a jockey after his first Derby experience with Swaps in 1955, paid credit to the ride of his jockey Victor Espinoza.
"I thought he rode him perfect," Sherman stated.
"I was riding the last 70 yards with Victor, he had a lot of weight on him, I can tell you that."
Jockey Victor Espinoza said he could not explain his bond with California Chrome.
"I don't know why, but we get along together very well."
"I let him do his thing. I let him enjoy the race." he said.
The race was watched by a crowd of 164,906, the second-largest in the Derby's 140-year history.
Last month on April 5 after California Chrome’s win in the Santa Anita Derby, the owners rejected an offer of $6 million. California Chrome.
However the bids will be significantly improved now that he's Kentucky Derby Champion – with a shot at the elusive Triple Crown !
"Oh, I think $10 million might be too cheap now?" his 77-year-old trainer said on Sunday morning outside the barn where California Chrome was on display for photographers, a day after running away with the Derby.
"If you could ever win these big races, for a stallion prospect, you know he could be worth $30 million plus when you really think about it, what they get in stud fees, and have a full book for the next 10 years" said Sherman.
"They could be sitting on a gold mine. It's not just the money right now, but the long-range potential is great, you know what I mean. It would be super. If they get lucky enough to go the Triple Crown and see what happens, it would just be unbelievable to have a horse like him.”
Part owner Steve Coburn works in production for a company that makes magnetic strips for credit cards and hotel keys. Whilst fellow part owner Perry Martin and his wife own and operate a materials testing company.
The duo, who identify themselves as DAP Racing (Dumb Ass Partners) had previously owned small shares in horses through a syndicate.
They bought a mare named “Love the Chase” for $8,000 and paid a $2,500 stud fee to breed her with “Lucky Pulpit.”
The product of that mating was California Chrome, now the first California-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby since Decidedly in 1962.
Now, California Chrome is headed to the May 17 Preakness in Baltimore – second leg of the Triple Crown. No horse has won the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. Since Affirmed, 12 horses have won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness only to lose in the Belmont.
After the Derby, owner Steve Coburn was talking Triple Crown.
“I said this horse would win the Kentucky Derby.”
“When this horse wins the Kentucky Derby, I believe this horse will win the Triple Crown.”
Trainer Art Sherman said California Chrome, based at Los Alamitos racetrack in California, will stay in Kentucky before making the trip to Baltimore.
"So far everything looks good on him and he's been tight and sound, so it will be on. It will be something else," he said.
"Sometimes you dream about it. Is he gonna be a Triple Crown winner? I don't know, you know what I mean. I just know that when we lead him over there (to Baltimore), he'll be the horse to beat."
Sherman's previous trip to the Derby was in 1955 when, as a teenage exercise rider, he travelled from California to Louisville in a railroad boxcar with Swaps – who went on to win the Derby that year.
Swaps, also a California-bred, originally was buried at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky but his remains were later moved to the Kentucky Derby Museum at Churchill Downs.
How did it feel for Sherman Sunday morning?
"It's cool, I can tell you," said Sherman, a former jockey standing at 5 feet 2 ½ inches tall.
"You wake up in the morning and say “Hey, I just won the Kentucky Derby.”
“It's a dream come true for me. I've been in the game so long."
Sherman was a jockey for 23 years before becoming a trainer in 1980.
"I never had the big stables or the moneyed people behind me, just mom and pop operations and people that's always good friends," he said. "It's a different ballgame for me. Beating all the big boys and maybe they had their doubts that this horse wasn't a runner … When you run against him you find out. He's the real McCoy.'
Winning jockey Victor Espinoza had such a big lead down the stretch that he eased up near the finish. California Chrome still won by 1 ¾ lengths over second-place Commanding Curve.