
California Chrome Back in Action in $1 Million Pennsylvania Derby
California Chrome will make his much-anticipated return to action in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby on Saturday at Parx Racing. The Grade 2 race will be run at a mile and an eighth on the main track and was used last year by Will Take Charge as a stepping stone to a runner-up finish in the Breeders Cup Classic.
Installed as the even-money morning line favorite, California Chrome will be making his first start since finishing fourth in the Belmont Stakes (G1) after winning the first two jewels of the Triple Crown. The chestnut son of Lucky Pulpit will break from the inside post under regular rider Victor Espinoza as he goes for his sixth win of the year and attempts to solidify his bid for the Eclipse Award for champion three-year-old. Trained by Art Sherman, he has been training steadily at Los Alamitos.
Bayern trying to rebound after Travers flop
Second choice at odds of 7-2 is Bayern for trainer Bob Baffert. Purchased for $320,000 as a two-year-old, the dark bay son of Offlee Wild will be trying to rebound after finishing tenth and last in the Travers (G1) at Saratoga after setting the pace. Prior to that effort, he had back to back victories in the Woody Stephens (G2) and Haskell Invitational (G1). Bayern has won four of his eight starts and will have Martin Garcia aboard from post position four.
Tapiture going for third straight stakes win
Also in the field is Tapiture, set at odds of 5-1 for trainer Steve Asmussen. Bred and owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, the chestnut son of Tapit has reeled off back to back victories since finishing fifteenth in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He prevailed by a nose in the West Virginia Derby (G2) last time out under jockey Rosie Napravnik and the pair will team up again. Slated to break from post position seven, Tapiture is going for his fifth career win.
Leave a comment