Horse Racing
Jack Shinar 9y

Shared Belief shows his class

Horse Racing

The showdown everyone wanted to see produced a clear verdict for Shared Belief over reigning Horse of the Year California Chrome in the $500,000 San Antonio Invitational Stakes Feb. 7 at Santa Anita Park.

Second choice California Chrome, leading by a length at the head of the stretch, could not withstand the charge of even-money favorite Shared Belief, who responded to a couple of left-handed cracks of the whip from Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith in upper stretch.

Shared Belief surged past in deep stretch under a hand ride on his way to a convincing win by about 1-3/4 lengths. The final time for the 1-1/8-mile trip was 1:48.45 over a fast track.

Hoppertunity finished far back in third.

Owned by Jim Rome's Jungle Racing and partners and trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Shared Belief, the 2-year-old champion of 2013, registered his ninth win from 10 career starts. He once more redeemed his only loss in the Breeders' Cup Classic in which he finished one spot behind California Chrome when fourth after getting bumped offstride at the break.

The 4-year-old gelding by Candy Ride was bred in Kentucky by Pam and Marty Wygod out of the Storm Cat mare Common Hope.

California Chrome, making his first start since taking the Hollywood Derby on the Del Mar turf Nov. 29, was a bit anxious leaving the gate. Under a light rain, the robust chestnut colt took the lead leaving from post 8 before being overtaken on his outside by Alfa Bird approaching the clubhouse turn. Shared Belief angled to the outside of those two and tracked from third as Alpha Bird set moderate fractions of :23.65 seconds, :47.87 seconds, and 1:12.49.

Rounding the far turn, jockey Victor Espinoza allowed California Chrome to go for an early run and he quickly swept past Alfa Bird. But Smith never allowed California Chrome to get too far from Shared Belief, who came out of the bend poised for the drive.

California Chrome appeared to be going the better of the two at the head of the lane but Shared Belief made up the slight deficit after getting encouragement from Smith. Lengthening his stride impressively under hand urging, the smallish dark bay surged ahead of California Chrome and drew off in the drive for the wire.

Shared Belief paid $4, $3.40, and $2.10, across the board, topping a $7.60 exacta with California Chrome, who returned $2.80 and $2.60 at 7-5 odds. Hoppertunity, ridden by Martin Garcia, was $2.60 to show.

Shared Belief, coming off a neck victory in the seven-furlong Malibu Stakes Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, boosted his career earnings to $2,332,200 for Rome and Hollendorfer, who own him in partnership with Jason Litt, Alex Solis II, George Todaro, and Kevin and Kim Nish's KMN Racing.

The dark bay was purchased by Hollendorfer privately from the Wygods after he debuted at Golden Gate Fields in October 2013, taking a six-furlong maiden special weight by seven lengths. Shared Belief went on to win all three of his starts at 2, wrapping up an Eclipse Award with a 5-3/4-length romp in the CashCall Futurity.

After missing the Triple Crown campaign with a foot injury that was slow to heal, Shared Belief returned in 2014 with stellar efforts in taking the Los Alamitos Derby, TVG Pacific Classic and Awesome Again Stakes prior to the roughly-run Breeders' Cup Classic, in which he lost all chance at the start.

His foot injury kept Shared Belief from meeting California Chrome prior to the Classic. It's possible they could renew their budding rivalry in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap March 7, a race that could also include Classic winner Bayern. California Chrome's connections have stated an interest in going to Dubai for the World Cup March 28, however.

The Chilean-bred gelding Bronzo was fourth in the San Antonio.

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