Chrome and Stellar Wind Put on a Super Saturday Show!
- Laura Pugh
- Oct 2, 2016
- 3 min read
Photo Credit: Gary Tasich
Super Saturday may not have so “super” at Belmont Park, but at Santa Anita California Chrome, Dortmund, Stellar Wind, and Beholder gave the fans the show they all were waiting for.
In the Zenyatta Stakes (GI), Beholder was denied her fourth consecutive win in the race. Despite the defeat, the four-time champion mare’s reputation lost no luster. Beholder ran a spectacular race while setting legitimate early splits before digging deep in the stretch, displaying the courage of a champion. Unfortunately, Stellar Wind proved to be too much.
“I flat got out-run,” said Gary Stevens, rider of Beholder. “I have no excuses. Carrying equal weight. Hat’s off to the winner, and hat’s off to my mare. She shows up every day.”
This win brings the score to two wins for Stellar Wind and one for Beholder, in the three times they have met in 2016. Barring injury and illness, the two champion mares will likely face off for a fourth time in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, where they will meet Cavorting and the undefeated Songbird.
“She ran so well last time,” said John Saddler, trainer of Stellar Wind. “I thought this race would be very similar to what it was–another battle, and we were lucky enough to prevail a second time. The rubber match (coming up). We’re looking forward to it.
Going into the Zenyatta, one could say that Stellar Wind was somewhat disrespected by the bettors, but after nailing Beholder for the second consecutive time, that mistake will not likely be repeated. She has now proven that her win in the Clement Hirsch Stakes (GI) was no fluke, and that she is one of the elites of her division.
As good as the Zenyatta was, nothing was going to top California Chrome in the Awesome Again Stakes (GI). The race was supposed to be a nail biting rematch between Dortmund and California Chrome, but the son of Lucky Pulpit clearly had other ideas.
Both of the fleet footed chestnuts broke well, but it was Chrome who was sent to the lead by Victor Espinoza, with Dortmund glued to his flank.
Dortmund pushed California Chrome through blistering opening splits. The duo was caught getting their opening quarter mile in :22.76, and the opening half in a scorching :46.08. Dortmund continued to push his rival through an eye-popping six furlongs in 1:09.28, but not long after, California Chrome spurted clear with a sudden burst of speed.
Around the turn, try as he might, Dortmund could not match strides with California Chrome. By the time they entered the stretch, California Chrome had drawn clear to a commanding three and a half length lead. At the wire, Espinoza had begun to gear the flashy stallion down, shortening the final margin of victory to just over two lengths.
“He’s on his game right now,” Espinoza said. (Dortmund) wasn’t a threat today. Maybe the first quarter mile. After that, I just kept pulling away, which only helped me get some breathing room between us and the rest of the field.
“He’s a challenging horse to run against because he’s versatile on top of his talent; he can run on the front end and can come from behind. That’s difficult to run against, he’s so tactical.”
With this win, California cemented his spot atop the division and his status as the heavy favorite going into the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
“When he gets in front, he’s a hard horse to get by,” said trainer Art Sherman. “I knew he’d wear Dortmund down with the fractions the way they were. He took Dortmund’s game plan away from him.
“I’m looking forward to (the Breeders’ Cup Classic), and hope everything goes according to plan. Each race seems a little bit better – it’s a little scary.”
Scary is right. After the Awesome Again, California is the only major classic contender left standing. He has faced the likes of Beholder, Dortmund, and Frosted and he has trounced them all.
Now, with only the fresh faces of the muddled three-year-old division left to challenge him, winning the Breeders’ Cup Classic would seem to be a foregone conclusion for the incomparable California Chrome.
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