Chrome Aces Turf Test in Hollywood Derby

California Chrome easily won the Hollywood Derby in his turf debut. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
California Chrome made his turf debut look like just another workout on Saturday when he pulled away to win the $300,000 Hollywood Derby by two easy lengths.
Racing on turf for the first time in his career, the 2014 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner showed that the change of surface didn't affect him at all during the race at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.
California Chrome was a little keen out of the starting gate, taking the lead with only Sawyer’s Hill attempting to go with him. By the first turn however, jockey Victor Espinoza had settled the big chestnut and gave Swayer’s Hill the lead, letting California Chrome gallop behind them. The field was stretched out for most of the backstretch run with third placed Lexie Lou five lengths behind California Chrome, who was four lengths behind the leader.
As the field approached the end of the backstretch, the 6-horse field made it look for a few seconds like it might be a competitive Hollywood Derby as they bunched up. But Espinoza just had to give California Chrome a little more rein in the middle of the far turn, and the pair eagerly regained the lead.
From there, it was a cakewalk for the colt as he lengthened his lead in the stretch. Second choice Lexie Lou ate down the margin of victory a bit as California Chrome was geared down by Espinoza, but the Canadian classic winner was no match for ‘Chrome’ and he flashed past the finish line well clear of the opposition. Lexie Lou finished second with Talco finishing third.
CALIFORNIA CHROME AFTER WINNING THE HOLLYWOOD DERBY

California Chrome covered the 1 1/8 miles in a time of 1:47.88. The colt added $180,000 to his lifetime earnings with the win, taking his career total to $4,222,650.
The last Kentucky Derby winner to win on turf after his Derby victory was Animal Kingdom. In this century, only four Kentucky Derby winners have won on both dirt and turf surfaces during their careers. California Chrome and Animal Kingdom are the only two Kentucky Derby winners since 2000 to have won on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces.
Owned by breeders Perry Martin and Steve Coburn, California Chrome is trained by Art Sherman. California Chrome had not won since the Preakness, with two off-the-board finishes after that race, but he was in a three-way photo finish for win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he finished third.
California Chrome went off at odds of 3-to-5 and paid $3.40 to win on a $2 win ticket.
For an Equibase chart, click here.