Agreement in Place to Sell California Chrome to Japan

The California Chrome Syndicate has reached an agreement with the JS Company of Japan for it to purchase California Chrome , subject to the Japanese government's quarantine and exportation requirements being met, Taylor Made Stallions announced Nov. 20.

The two-time Horse of the Year and 8-year-old son of Lucky Pulpit will stand at Arrow Stud on Hokkaido. Arrow Stud also stands U.S. champion Shanghai Bobby and U.S. classic-placed group 2 winner Lani.

As part of the agreement, the California Chrome Syndicate has the first right of refusal if the stallion is ever sold. Upon retirement from breeding, he can live out the remainder of his life at Taylor Made. Owners Perry and Denise Martin will continue to participate in California Chrome's breeding career in Japan.

"We were approached by the buyer between the September and the November sale, and being that California Chrome is owned by a 50-share syndicate, we polled the syndicate and they decided to do it," said Duncan Taylor, president and CEO of Taylor Made. "Emotionally, it is a hard thing because we love the horse, and he's taken the Taylor brothers to places we never dreamed of going.

"In the long run, though, we have to run the farm like a business," Taylor continued. "We have a number of families to feed and don't have some other source of income. We are making our money in the horse business. The good thing is that he is going to a great farm that will take care of him, and he gets the chance to hit in three different countries and two hemispheres. I'm hoping he's the next Sunday Silence."

The most accomplished horse from the A.P. Indy sire line, California Chrome bred 473 mares in his first three books at Taylor Made Stallions. His first crop of yearlings sold this year, topped by a $325,000 purchase. California Chrome stood the Southern Hemisphere breeding seasons in 2017 and 2018 in Chile at Sumaya Stud.

Taylor said California Chrome's quarantine schedule is dependent on notification from Japan about when space is available at its quarantine facility. He anticipates the stallion will enter a 30-day quarantine at Taylor Made during the first week in December.

Because California Chrome has such a large fan following—having attracted more than 20,000 visitors since he entered stud in 2016—Taylor said the farm is considering hosting an open house before the stallion ships overseas. Whether an open house is possible, however, is dependent on the quarantine schedule.

California Chrome, Horse of the Year in 2014 and 2016 and the richest Kentucky Derby winner in history, won seven group/grade 1 races—the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), Preakness Stakes (G1), TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), Santa Anita Derby (G1), Awesome Again Stakes (G1), and Hollywood Derby (G1T). He was retired with earnings of $14,752,650. 

Bred in California by Perry Martin and Steve Coburn out of the Not For Love mare Love the Chase, California Chrome stood for $35,000 this year.