California shines in devastating Pacific Classic triumph

California Chrome may have a bulging CV with wins in some of the most prestigious races such as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Dubai World Cup, but he put up arguably the best performance of his career in the Pacific Classic on Saturday when easily brushing aside high-class rivals Beholder and Dortmund.

Dortmund had made California Chrome pull out all the stops in the San Diego Handicap last month – admittedly in receipt of 5lb – while star mare Beholder, who won the Pacific Classic last year, had racked up an impressive sequence of Grade 1 wins.

However, what some expected to be a closely fought contest quickly developed into a rout as California Chrome, sent straight into the lead by Victor Espinoza, raced enthusiastically before bounding clear entering the straight to win by five lengths. Beholder finished a distant second while Dortmund was over two lengths further back in third.