Two-Time Horse of the Year California Chrome Arrives in Japan

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Two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome during his racing career. (Eclipse Sportswire)

California Chrome arrived in Japan Jan. 7 ahead of taking up stud duties at Arrow Stud, according to JS Company, a Thoroughbred trading company affiliated with Arrow Stud.

Alan Sherman, son and assistant to trainer Art Sherman, accompanied the two-time Horse of the Year on the journey and will help him settle in. The Sherman operation saddled California Chrome to seven Grade/Group 1 wins and more than $14.7 million in earnings during his racing career from 2013-’17.

JS Company shared on Twitter that the 9-year-old son of Lucky Pulpit arrived at a quarantine facility in Yokohama and will remain there for 21 days.

California Chrome stood at Taylor Made Stallions near Nicholasville, Ky., from 2017-’19, twice shuttling to Sumaya Stud in Chile. It was announced Nov. 20 that JS Company had reached an agreement with the California Chrome syndicate to purchase the stallion ahead of the 2020 breeding season.

As a 3-year-old California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands and Preakness Stakes, and later that season captured the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on turf. At 5, he won on the world stage, taking the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline, and defeated Beholder to win the $1 Million TVG Pacific Classic by five lengths. He retired with a 16 wins, four seconds, and one third in 27 starts.

California Chrome received four Eclipse Awards during his race career. He was named champion 3-year-old colt in 2014 and champion older horse in 2016, also earning Horse of the Year honors both those years.

His 2020 stud fee is set at ¥4 million ($36,500 United States). His first crop turned 2 years old in 2020.

Arrow Stud, located in Shizunai on Hokkaido Island, also stands U.S. 2-year-old champion Shanghai Bobby and Group 2 winner Lani, who was third in the 2016 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.

The agreement for JS Company to purchase California Chrome gives the California Chrome syndicate the first right of refusal if the stallion is ever sold. When retired he can live out his life at Taylor Made.

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