Awesome Again S.

California Chrome’s winning margin in the $300,000, Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes was 2 1/4 lengths over Dortmund, but anyone who watched knows better.

Under pressure on the outside by Dortmund through most of the 1 1/8-mile test, California Chrome clicked off very fast fractions, inched away from his rival in the backstretch with a little asking from jockey Victor Espinoza, opened up a clear lead in the turn and galloped — geared down — to the finish line in the final strides.

With a professional break from the rail, the 5-year-old by Lucky Pulpit set fractions of :22.76, :46.08, and 1:09.28 through six furlongs. He covered a mile in 1:34.45 and finished off the race in 1:48.07 to clinch his sixth victory of the year for trainer Art Sherman.

“When he gets in front, he’s a hard horse to get by, and I knew he’d wear Dortmund down with the fractions the way they were,” Sherman said. “He took Dortmund’s gameplan away from him. He tried and ran a hell of a race, but you’re looking at maybe the best horse in the world right now.”

Essentially a match race from the start, the top pair opened up 10 1/2 lengths on the field after a half-mile of running and 12 lengths through three-quarters of a mile. The only horse who made up any significant ground was Win the Space, who came in 4 1/2 lengths behind Dortmund.

“He’s on his game right now,” Espinoza said. “[Dortmund] wasn’t a threat today. Maybe the first quarter-mile, but after that, I just kept pulling away, which only helped me get some breathing room between us and the rest of the field.”

“Second-best — no excuses,” said Dortmund’s jockey, Rafael Bejarano. “The winner had a lot of pressure on him and that was the only chance I had.”

Off as the 2-5 favorite, California Chrome paid $2.80, $2.10, and $2.10 across the board. Dortmund paid $2.20 and $2.10, and Win the Space delivered $2.80 to show.

Still undefeated in 2016, California Chrome is now eligible for a $1 million bonus if he wins the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita. The bonus was offered to any horse who could sweep the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes, Awesome Again, and Breeders’ Cup Classic.

California Chrome now has more than $13.4-million in earnings and 15 wins from 24 starts, including seven Grade/Group 1 wins.