Chrome Facing Retirement With Poor BC Effort

The racing career of California Chrome would come to an end with a poor performance in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 1, one of his owners said in a published report.



Coming off two bitter defeats after smashing victories in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness (gr. I), California Chrome remains one of the stars in this year's 1 1/4-mile Classic at Santa Anita Park.



But with a bad result, the $5 million race would be the 3-year-old colt's last, co-owner Perry Martin told the Sacramento Bee in an article posted Oct. 24 on the newspaper's website, sacbee.com.



"(It's) race by race now," said Martin, confirming for the first time what many observers suspected. "A good BC Classic and we'll keep going. (Run a) clunker and he's off to the breeding shed."



Martin, who co-bred the son of Lucky Pulpit   in California with his Dumb Ass Stable partner Steve Coburn, quickly added that he doesn't anticipate another disappointment in America's richest race.



"He's getting super sharp," Martin told the newspaper. "We expect his best ever."



The popular chestnut has won eight of 14 starts and more than $3.5 million. With a victory in the BC Classic, he would likely win Horse of the Year honors.



But California Chrome has not won since the Preakness May 17. Spoiling his Triple Crown bid, he suffered a hoof injury June 7 while finishing in a dead heat for fourth in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in New York, a race won by BC Classic rival Tonalist.



In his first race on the comeback from his injury, California Chrome finished sixth in the Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) Sept. 20, a race won by the brilliant Bayern, who is also pre-entered in the Classic.



The colt since has trained aggressively for Art Sherman at his home track, Los Alamitos Race Course in Orange County, since the Pennsylvania Derby. He covered six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 Oct. 18.