Beating California Chrome is never easy but nine brave souls will try to do just that Saturday at Los Alamitos. The vehicle is the $180,000 Winter Challenge at a mile and a sixteenth. The race was basically invented to give California Chrome a prep for his final race, the Pegasus World Cup.
Two horses are on the also eligible list and are unlikely to start but let’s begin there. Air Pocket would be the first one to draw into the race but his only win vs. winners came in a soft $25,000 non-winners of two event. The other also eligible Ground Rules was beaten nearly 16 lengths in his other stakes try and both of these horses are rank outsiders.
From the rail out Howdy is one of those colt’s with designs on beating California Chrome. He is in the good hands of Pete Eurton and has won at Los Alamitos but he has competed against a number of today’s foes and has not been able to win.
Wrightwood has not won in eons and his connections would probably be giddy if he can just get a slice of the purse.
Presidentsky has never raced at Los Alamitos and three of his five wins have come on grass.
Point Piper at least has stakes credentials. The pro came from eleven lengths back winning the Grade 3 Longacres Mile in the summer and had little chance last time when catching the lone speed horse Midnight Storm.
Ain’t Misbehavin was just claimed and he goes from the barn of Gary Stute to the stable of Vladimir Cerin. I used to play poker with Cerin and he plays his cards close to the vest. He is very adept with purchases and don’t be shocked if this runner fires big time.
Lucky J Lane will hang his chances on beating California Chrome by remembering that he won his only race at Los Alamitos. The gelding was all out by a nose that day and has been dismal in his recent stakes efforts.
Avanti Bello has a shot to rise to the occasion. He did that in May when he took the $100,000 Tiznow Stakes and he has been freshened since beating optional foes the day before Halloween.
If Unusual Meeting gets his wish in beating California Chrome, he will light the tote board on fire. He has never worked at Los Alamitos, has only won four times in his career and has fifteen slices.
Papacoolpapacool, who is trained by Phil D’Amato, has not done any chilling in 2016. He was making a bit of an impact last time when only beaten a length but all of his wins have come on grass.
The reality of the matter is that no horse has been capable of beating California Chrome this year other than Arrogate. California Chrome had a length and a half lead at the top of the stretch in the Breeders’ Cup Classic but Arrogate reeled him in. California Chrome, who is trained by Art Sherman, still earned a 119 Beyer Speed Figure and that towers over anything today’s rivals have accomplished.
Since the Breeders’ Cup Classic, California Chrome has not missed a beat. He was rested for nearly three weeks after the Classic but then put in a solid four-furlong work. He has always been comfortable at Los Alamitos and has been stabled here for quite some time. He showed his affinity for the track once again just eight mornings ago when he went 1:00 3/5 in a five-furlong workout.
The way the Winter Challenge sets up could not be better for California Chrome. There is a paucity of speed in the line-up and would not be shocked if Avanti Bello is closest to the prohibitive favorite early on. California Chrome is the world’s richest runner and he will be racing at Los Alamitos for the first time. This is his last race in California and he was nearly eleven lengths in front of his nearest foe when beaten in the Classic. His only obstacle will be negotiating a trip from the extreme outside post position.
If anyone in this field is successful in beating California Chrome, it will go down as one of the biggest upsets in racing history.
