DEL MAR, Calif. (July 31, 2013) – California Chrome rallied three wide turning for home and drew off to win Wednesday’s $100,250 Graduation Stakes for 2-year-olds eligible to the Golden State Series at Del Mar.
California Chrome is by Lucky Pulpit, out of the Not For Love mare Love the Chase, was bred by owners Perry Martin & Steve Coburn and is trained by Art Sherman.
He has two wins in four starts, earnings of $100,600 and was coming off a fifth in the June 15 Willard Proctor.
“He was a little bit green (when fifth in the Willard Proctor Memorial last out),” said Sherman. “I could see him ducking in and out, so I put blinkers on him. Alberto (Delgado) knows him so well and you could see today that he was all business. We might run him in the ($300,000) Futurity (Sept. 4) and see what happens. I think the farther he goes the better.”
It was the first win at Del Mar for Delgado.
“To do it in a hundred grander is very special. I’m pumped,” he said. “This is a nice colt and I’m tickled I got to ride him again. I broke his maiden (May 17 at Betfair Hollywood Park) and the next day I broke my ankle. When he came back and ran last time (a fifth-place finish in Willard Proctor Memorial at Betfair Hollywood Park on June 15), I couldn’t ride and I was sick about it. But they put me back on today and I’m just delighted. He’s a nice colt and he’s going to get better.”
California Chrome ran the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:03.48 and won by 2 ¾ lengths at odds of 6-1. Moving Desert was second and Gangnam Guy third in the field of seven.