California Chrome went wire to wire winning with authority. Fractions were 23, 45 and 3, 1:09 2, 1:34 and came home 1:40 and 3. He destroyed the competition from start to finish. His last two wins were dominating wins and this gives him the hat trick. The popular opinion was that he was 5 lengths better than anyone in the field and finished 5 lengths better than anyone in the field. Kristo tried to rate and Schoolofhardrocks off the layoff was forced into a fast pace.
Second way of looking at this was Midnight Hawk had no chance to go 8.5 furlongs under any circumstances and Kristo should not have rated and is a miler. Schoolofhardrocks had no chance when rank out of the gate with that fast pace.
California Chrome won 5 of 9 races and three in a row but these fractions were very fast, too fast to even try to decipher. Most logically with the 50 points he trains up to Kentucky Derby, he has a lot of races and is in the starting gate.
Kristo ran well for running 10 lengths behind the pace and never been that far back. No reason not to go to Santa Anita Derby and face off with Candy Boy and possibly Bayern and only a couple of others. Schoolofhardrocks will get a lot out of this race and Cool Samurai may jump back into the waters.
Most likely California Chrome trains to Kentucky. Bayern, Midnight Hawk, Candy Boy, Kristo and Schoolofhardrocks and Cool Samurai in the Santa Anita Derby for 2 more starting spots.
If California Chrome goes to Santa Anita Derby he will be heavily favored in that spot and will match up with the same horses and will still hold a speed edge, especially if Bayern ships out-of-town.
Big win for California Chrome in the San Felipe. Joins Intense Holiday, Samraat, and Wildcat Red as 50 point winners.
Midnight Hawk is slowly moving up the points ladder and if they want to go they probably will get in but this horse wants no part of 10 furlongs. But with those connections he will get bet. So pack your bags Midnight Hawk and go to Kentucky.