Shared Belief triumphs over California Chrome at San Antonio

This time there was no trouble, no excuses. And on this day, once-beaten Shared Belief was better than Horse of the Year and Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, winning Saturday's $500,000 San Antonio at Santa Anita Park by a couple of lengths.

It was a race that lived up to its billing in a rare meeting between champions in their first race at 4, Shared Belief being the 2013 juvenile champion who missed the Triple Crown with a foot problem, and California Chrome, who went on to win the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Hollywood Derby on turf to clinch the 3-year-old championship and Horse of the Year.

Hall of Famer Mike Smith rode a masterful race, putting Shared Belief in pouncing range of California Chrome throughout. California Chrome, niftier running turns, appeared poised to spurt off at the top of the stretch under Victor Espinoza. But under Smith's aggressive left-hand whip, Shared Belief ate up their deficit to collar and pass the Derby winner at the sixteenth pole. It was a hand ride the rest of the way.

"I'm not usually at a loss for words," Smith told HRTV afterward. "But it was that kind of performance. Just brilliant."

California Chrome ran hard to the wire.

"It was a good matchup," said Art Sherman, trainer of California Chrome. "I'm so proud of my horse, he didn't give it up. And Jerry (Hollendorfer's) horse was the best horse today. (California Chrome) will run his eyeballs out, too. He's the kind of horse who doesn't give up. You probably saw the two best handicap horses in the country right now running."

Shared Belief now is 9 for 10. His only defeat came in the Breeders' Cup Classic, when he was wiped out at the start by eventual winner Bayern.

Rees also writes for the (Louisville) Courier-Journal.