On the surface, California Chrome’s victory Thursday in his final prep for the $10 million Dubai World Cup was no reason for cartwheels. Not even handstands.
In other words, don’t go cashing in your 401(k) in hopes of making a big score March 26.
Yes, he was giving away tons of weight to the other seven horses at Meydan Racecourse while carrying 132 pounds, but let’s be honest. He didn’t beat anybody. The runner-up, Storm Belt, will never be confused for Spectacular Bid. Hence the reason he carried a ridiculous weight.
The official result will say he won some $150,000 race called the Trans Gulf Electromechanical Trophy — no, we didn’t make the name up — by some 2 1/2 lengths, but there are a lot of horses stabled at Santa Anita that could have won that race.
Don’t get too excited yet, Chromies. Yes, this is a far different horse than what we saw last year when he was ill-advisedly shipped to England for a turf campaign that never came about because of a variety of reasons. But it’s also a fact he’s yet to prove he’s all the way back.
