Uncle Lino Game in California Chrome Stakes

Free from the likes of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) runners Exaggerator, Danzing Candy, and Mor Spirit, Uncle Lino broke through for his first stakes win April 30 in the inaugural $150,000 California Chrome Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Third, fourth, and second, respectively, in the past three Triple Crown preps at Santa Anita Park, the Uncle Mo   colt dueled with Rare Candy throughout Saturday and outlasted the longshot challenger to win by a half-length.

Under jockey Fernando Perez, Uncle Lino hit the wire in 1:40.82 for the 1 1/16 miles, after setting fractions of :23.65, :47.10, and 1:11 flat through six furlongs, just ahead of 15-1 Rare Candy all the way around the Los Al oval. Touched by Autism, the longest shot on the board at 71-1, finished another 5 1/4 lengths back in third.

"He came out running and was comfortable all the way around," Perez said. "I was still very confident when (Rare Candy) came to us, because my horse just wasn't going to let him go by."

Winning trainer Gary Sherlock said after the race that he's considering the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) for Uncle Lino's next start.

"We've been talking about the Preakness," Sherlock said. "We'll see how he comes out of this race. We get an extra week from the Derby horses. Somebody asked me if this horse would win today. I said, 'Well, the horses that have been beating him are running in the Kentucky Derby, so I think he's got a pretty good chance.'"

The winner paid $4.60, $3.20, and $3 across the board. Rare Candy brought $8.60 and $5.80, and Touched by Autism $12.20.

Art Sherman-trained Mishegas nosed out Dalmore for fourth, followed by Curlin Rules, Malibu Sunset, and Let's Meet in Rio, to complete the order of finish. One More Round was scratched.

Bred in Kentucky, out of the Orientate   mare Haysee, Uncle Lino now has a 2-2-2 record from seven starts, with $316,160 in earnings for owners Tom Mansor, Purple Shamrock Racing, and Sherlock.