By Bloodhorse.com
CYPRESS, Calif. (Nov. 7, 2014) — California Chrome will not race in Japan in December and appears to be done with racing for the 2014 season, according to co-owner and co-breeder Perry Martin.
The close third-place finisher in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I), California Chrome won this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I), and was under serious consideration for the $1.9 million Champions Cup (Jpn-I). The 1 1/8-mile race, previously known as the Japan Cup Dirt, is Dec. 7 at Chukyo Racecourse.
But Martin, the majority owner in a partnership with Steve Coburn, said in an email Nov. 6 that the trip is “definitely off” primarily because Japanese Racing Association officials will not allow California Chrome to race with a nasal strip. A similar issue was raised by Martin and Coburn in New York prior to the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) before racing officials there relented and allowed the use of nasal strips last June.
“I was really excited about Japan as I thought it would be a great international showcase for ‘Chrome since the majority of the breeding inquiries are from Japan,” Martin said. “We need to confirm that he can run well without medication and doing that sooner, rather than later, would be best.
“In assessing the opportunity, there are many small problems running in Japan that affect the safety of the horse such as no assistant starters in the gate,” Martin added. “The biggest, to me, was no nasal strips. I believe that nasal strips do reduce the occurrence and severity of (pulmonary) bleeding and contribute significantly to the prolonged health of the horse.
“For that reason we will not run in jurisdictions that prohibit their use. I asked the JRA to use the strips in Japan and they said no. That is that.”
Art Sherman, California Chrome’s trainer, had earlier expressed misgivings about the planned trip, citing the long shipping, quarantine requirements, and differences in medication in Japan and the U.S.
California Chrome will not run in the $500,000 Clark Handicap Presented by Norton Healthcare (gr. I) Nov. 28 at Churchill Downs, either, Martin said. The Clark has been touted in some circles as potentially a deciding race in what is a muddled Horse of the Year picture.
“I really don’t think we have a chance at HOY,” Martin said. “Every good performance seems to be marginalized by the press and poor performances get promoted as proof. Since they are the voters it seems clear. Anyway it’s out of my control and I’m not going to worry about it.”
Martin confirmed that California Chrome would return to race as a 4-year-old in 2015, which was reported Nov. 5. He said he expected the flashy chestnut to run six or seven times next year, adding, “I don’t see Chrome running for less than $1 million.”
Though no definite schedule has been mapped out, Martin said the Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), the world’s richest race at $10 million March 28 at Meydan Racecourse, “is in play.”
“We want to try him on the grass and that race will probably be the Arlington Million (gr. IT),” he added. “Art has had good luck there and I grew up there (in the Chicago area), so it would be nice to run in front of family and friends. The Breeders’ Cup Classic in Lexington is the end of year goal.”
California Chrome, who lost the Nov. 1 Classic by a long neck to Bayern, earned $500,000 for his third and has now banked $3,827,800 this season while winning five of eight starts. In addition to his classic victories, the California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit won the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) and San Felipe Stakes (gr. II). His career mark stands at 8-1-1 from 15 races with earnings of $4,042,650.