California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit–Love the Chase, by Not For Love), the richest winner of the GI Kentucky Derby in history and for a time North America's top money winner of all time, will continue his stud career in Japan after the California Chrome Syndicate reached an agreement with JS Company Limited to sell the 8-year-old, pursuant to all the Japanese government's quarantine and exportation requirements being met.
Winner of the 2014 Derby and GI Preakness, California Chrome capped off a Horse of the Year and Eclipse-winning 3-year-old campaign with victory in that year's GI Hollywood Derby, his lone try on the grass. Runner-up in the 2015 G1 Dubai World Cup, the blaze-faced chestnut thrashed his rivals in the 2016 renewal before adding a five-length defeat of Beholder (Henny Hughes) in the GI Pacific Classic and a gallant second to Arrogate (Unbridled's Song) in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. Also named Horse of the Year in 2016, he retired to Taylor Made, as the property of the California Chrome Syndicate, with 16 wins from 27 starts and earnings of $14,752,650.
His first crop of weanlings sold for up to $175,000 and he was the fourth-leading freshman weanling sire by median and average. His first yearlings this year sold for upwards of $325,000, including a half-sister to MGISW Bast (Uncle Mo), who sold to that filly's owner Baoma Corp. Others to sign for the stallion's offspring include such buyers as Solis/Litt, Bobby Flay, Katsumi Yoshida and Woodford Thoroughbreds.
“We were approached by representatives of the buyer, and being that California Chrome is owned by a 50-share syndicate, the offer was presented to the shareholders for a vote,” said Taylor Made's Duncan Taylor. “Ultimately, the results were in favor of moving forward with the sale. California Chrome is the best horse we have ever owned, and he will now have the opportunity to have offspring performing in three different countries. California Chrome is a very special horse and means a lot to not only the team members of Taylor Made but to the thousands of fans he has across the country.”
California Chrome, who stood for $35,000 this past season, shuttled to Chile in 2017 and 2018, serving mares at Haras Sumaya.
As part of the agreement, the California Chrome Syndicate has the first right of refusal if California Chrome is ever sold, and upon retirement from breeding, he can live out the remainder of his life at Taylor Made. Owners Perry and Denise Martin will continue to participate in California Chrome's breeding career in Japan.
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