California Chrome and Other Top Horses Ready For Two Wild Weekends

Posted Under: News by Jim Murphy on 20th July 2016

There’s an old saying that March ‘comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb’. No one has ever said that about the month of July but it’s true this year–at least for horse racing fans. After a downright uneventful beginning to the month racing will heat up considerably over the next two weeks with several of the top horses in the sport in action including the biggest rock star in horse racing, California Chrome.

Four big dollar graded stakes races in two weeks. That’s what fans have to look forward to. Things start with a bang this weekend as the most popular horse in the world–and the world’s #1 rated thoroughbred–will make his first start since dominating the $10 million Grade 1 Dubai World Cup. California Chrome will face six challengers in the Grade 2 $200,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. The six other entrants are Crittenden, Dortmund, Follow Me Crev, Hard Aces, Soi Phet and Win The Space. Two of these horses (Hard Aces and Soi Phet) are also nominated for the $100,000 Grade III Cougar II Handicap on Sunday’s card. Their connections have the option in racing in either event but both horse’s teams are leaning toward the San Diego Handicap.

The sport’s top three year old filly, Songbird, is shipping to Saratoga for Sunday’s $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks. She missed the Kentucky Oaks due to illness but has come back with a vengence. In her last timed workout on Sunday she turned in a very impressive six furlongs in 1:11.40. Another top filly is also getting ready for her next race as Pacific Classic Champion Beholder is continuing her training in preparation for the Grade I $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes on July 30 at Del Mar.

Kentucky Derby champion Nyquist is shipping to New Jersey’s Monmouth Park for the $1 million Haskell Invitational on July 31. Trainer Doug O’Neill said that while he would have liked to have stayed home in California the Haskell offered two advantages: “The two issues were running against older horses for less money at home or having to ship for a race for more money in his age group. Putting him on a plane to run against 3-year-olds is what we decided was in Nyquist’s best interest and that’s always what comes first.”

Another motivation–with O’Neill and Nyquist’s other connections pointing him toward the Breeders’ Cup Classic they likely wanted to avoid a head to head matchup with California Chrome before then.