California Chrome cruises to victory in return

Arcadia, CA

Local fan favorite California Chrome returned in dominate fashion to take the San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita. 

Making his 5-year-old debut the 2014 Horse of the Year cruised back into the winner's circle in his first race since March.

California Chrome sparked the crowd and was really never threatened en-route to a 1 1/4 length victory in the Grade II $200K stakes.

Jockey Victor Espinoza did not get after the favorite in this tune-up win and ran the 1 1/16 mile race in a measured final time of 1:43.

California Chrome returned $3.20 to win, finishing in front of a competitive Imperative who finished a trying second with Hoppertunity another length back in third.

Chrome is expected to take another try at the World Cup and be shipped back to Dubai for his next start. Where a $10 million purse is on the line, as the connections look to make California Chrome America's highest-earning horse ever.

Minority share ownership did change hands from that March start to the Kentucky-based Taylor Made Farm, where California Chrome will stand at stud after his racing career, from the outspoken Steve Coburn. 

Trainer Art Sherman was happy with the effort and Espinoza said he was proud of the way the champion returned.  

Baffert Collected a one-two finish in Sham Stakes

Arcadia, CA

Trainer Bob Baffert finished one-two with Collected and Let's Meet in Rio in the $100K Sham Stakes at Santa Anita.

Collected took the lead at the top of the stretch and never looked back down the lane. Ridden to victory by jockey Martin Garcia and trained by Baffert. The race favorite did not disappoint. 

Let's Meet in Rio ran an eye-catching second, closing from last in the eight-horse field to be second without a lot of urging from jockey Kent Desormeaux.

The Baffert trained duo finished within 1 1/4 lengths of one another with Laoban completing the trifecta 1 1/2 lengths back in third.

Collected returned $5.00 to win and ran the 1-mile race in a not-so-quick 1:38 final time.

Third place finisher Laoban entered the race a maiden and is someone to keep an eye on for the future around two turns. He was four-wide throughout the race and kept to task down the lane.

All three of the top finishers are expected to race back on the dirt as Kentucky Derby talk 2016 is on the horizon. 

Flamboyant shocks in the La Puente Stakes

Arcadia, CA

Turf specialist jockey Brice Blanc worked his magic again, guiding huge longshot Flamboyant to a major upset victory in the $200K La Puente Stakes at Santa Anita.

Blanc is well-known to be one of the country's best turf riders and proved it yet again aboard Flamboyant.

The 45-1 longshot closed from ninth in a field of 11 to win by a geared-down neck over the 5-2 favorite Obviously.

The favorite set fast opening fractional times of :23 and :46 for the 1 1/8 mile distance. Obviously enjoys being on the lead and ran a winning race, but simply couldn't hang on in the last few jumps.

Flamboyant ended a 10-race losing streak with the victory and was visually full of run entering the stretch. The gelding was the only one making up substantial ground on the favorite and is certainly one to watch moving forward if able to get pace to run at again.

Flamboyant returned a huge $94.20 to win. Running the 1 1/8 mile distance in a nice 1:46 final time.

Bal a Bali finished third to round out the trifecta and was unthreatening to the exacta.

Om opens Santa Anita winter meet in style

Arcadia, CA

Om rolls home in the Grade II Mathis Brother Mile opening day at Santa Anita winter meet.

The even-money favorite had an ideal trip under Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. Sitting in second behind pace-setting Acceptance through standard opening fractional times of :23 and :47, before kicking clear down the lane to win by an easy 1 3/4 lengths.

This was Om's fifth lifetime victory and is unbeaten in three starts on the Santa Anita turf course.

Longshot Perfectly Majestic chased home the winner to run a solid second place finish, but was really no match for Om at the end of the day. Jockey Kent Desormeaux was all out on the 24-1 shot, while Stevens was all hands on the favorite. 

Vigilante was a well beaten third, completing the trifecta, finishing 4 3/4 lengths behind Majestic.

Om returned $4.40 to win and finished the 1-mile turf race in a quick 1:35 final time.

The three-year-old colt Om is expected to return on the turf at Santa Anita in his next start.     

Champion Shared Belief Dies after Colic Episode

Davis, CA

Shared Belief, the champion 2-year-old of 2013 and Eclipse Award winner died Wednesday after developing colic.

The gelding was in training at Golden Gate Fields to return to the races after suffering a non-displaced hip fracture in April at Charles Town. 

Co-owner Alex Solis II and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer reported the champion trained well Wednesday morning, but returning to his stall he broke out in a sweat and was unresponsive to initial treatment.

The 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic favorite was rushed to the University of California-Davis School of Veterinary Medicine where surgery was attempted, but was unsuccessful.

Equine colic can be defined as severe abdominal pain and is one of the leading killers among domesticated horses. 

Shared Belief won 10 of 12 starts and finished with more than $2.9M in career earnings.

Majority owner and radio personality Jim Rome said he was devastated to announce the passing of the champion and that he was heartbroken with the loss.