Del Mar, CA
The biggest horse race of the Del Mar meet went to the best horse in the country.
California Chrome, the all-time leading money earner in North America, continued his legacy with a breathtaking performance in the $1 million Pacific Classic on Saturday.
The 2014 Horse of the Year was sent to the lead by jockey Victor Espinoza and never gave the field a thought of catching him, after cruising through uncontested pace fractions of :23 and :47.
California Chrome finished 5 lengths clear at the wire of Beholder and another 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Dortmund. Chrome returned $4.20 to win and ran the 1 1/4 mile race in a stellar 2:00. With the voice of Del Mar, Trevor Denman, calling the winning performance "unbelievable."
Champion mare Beholder finished a valiant second, but the betting favorite didn't gave any competitors a chance.
California Chrome, trained by Art Sherman, recorded victory number 14 from 23 starts and pushed his bankroll to more than $13 million.
Espinoza also cashed in his first Pacific Classic win, after going winless in 15 attempts, calling Chrome "the best horse" he has ever ridden after the triumph.
The smashing victory gave California Chrome the automatic berth to compete in the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic set to run Nov. 5 at Santa Anita.