California Chrome, Arrogate star at Del Mar, Saratoga

By RICHARD ENG SPECIAL TO REVIEW-JOURNAL

8 years ago

California Chrome jockey Victor Espinoza smiles as the horse crosses the finish line with a victory in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, in Del Mar, Calif. (Lenny Ignelzi/AP)

California Chrome, with jockey Victor Espinoza aboard, cools off after winning the Pacific Classic at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, in Del Mar, Calif. (Lenny Ignelzi/AP)

In a photo provided by Benoit Photo, California Chrome and jockey Victor Espinoza win the Pacific Classic horse race Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif. (Benoit Photo via AP)

California Chrome breaks away from the pack as he heads down the opening stretch during the running of the Pacific Classic at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, in Del Mar, Calif. (Lenny Ignelzi/AP)

California Chrome jockey Victor Espinoza waves to fans while the horse cools down after winning the Pacific Classic horse race at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, in Del Mar, Calif. (Lenny Ignelzi/AP)

Arrogate with Mike Smith aboard head to the winners circle after breaking a track record with a time of 1:56.36 winning The Travers Stakes horse race at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. (Hans Pennink/AP)

Arrogate with Mike Smith aboard set a track record winning The Travers Stakes horse race at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016. (Hans Pennink/AP)

As closing day approaches for the Del Mar and Saratoga meets Monday, we would be remiss to not highlight some tremendous performances.

The top horse has to be California Chrome, who won twice at Del Mar. He beat Dortmund in an exciting stretch duel in the San Diego Handicap, then defeated Beholder and Dortmund in the $1 million Pacific Classic. California Chrome will be a solid favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.

Beholder was second in the two most pivotal races at Del Mar. She was edged by Stellar Wind in the Clement L. Hirsch, then second in the Pacific Classic. It remains to be seen if she will point for the Classic or Distaff at the Breeders’ Cup.

In the Distaff, she could possibly face a rematch with Stellar Wind and heralded 3-year-old filly Songbird. Songbird is based in Southern California for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, but she ran and won twice at Saratoga in the Coaching Club American Oaks and the Alabama. Songbird could be favored in the Distaff, and I sure would like to see her run next year, too.

Arrogate won the Travers on Saturday by 13 lengths in track-record time at Saratoga. Trainer Bob Baffert had said Arrogate was his best 3-year-old, and now we know why. Horse racing is full of one-hit wonders, so the question begs if Arrogate is a freak or a fluke. I lean to freak, but we might have to wait until the Classic to find out.

Flintshire was a controversial winner of the Sword Dancer. No one doubts he was the best horse and ran a winning race. But at the top of the stretch, his uncoupled stablemate, Inordinate, cleared a path for him on the rail.

Frosted, who won the Whitney at Saratoga, will highlight closing weekend in the Grade 1 Woodward on Saturday. I am surprised he will face eight others, but I think some trainers thought he would pass on this spot and wait for Belmont Park.

At Del Mar on Saturday, all eyes will be on American Cleopatra in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante. She is a full sister to Triple Crown champion American Pharoah. She won her debut at 7-1 odds, which in hindsight looks like a gift from the racing gods.

But pedigrees can be tricky. Even with the same parents, you just never know.

CALIFORNIA POKER BILL DIES

California Internet Poker bill AB 2863, which would have provided a $60 million subsidy to the horse racing industry, has died in the California Legislature without a vote. The issue was not support of internet poker. The horse racing industry and the Native American tribes who operate the state’s casinos are behind its legalization.

But there was infighting over the wording of and exclusionary aspects of the bill. Someday a bill will be passed to legalize what experts believe is a more than $1 billion industry in California alone.

Richard Eng’s horse racing column is published Friday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. You can buy his Del Mar picks at www.racedaylasvegas.com. You can email him at rich_eng@hotmail.com and follow him on Twitter @richeng4propick