California Chrome Takes 2nd in Dubai World Cup

When you’ve flown around the world to compete and there’s a $10 million purse at stake, that’s got to sting a bit.

Prince Bishop, a 14-1 long shot, stormed from the back of the field to secure victory (and a massive payday!) in the the Dubai World Cup. The 8-year-old Irish-bred is trained by Saeed bin Suroor of the Godolphin racing operation and ran in the colors of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

Jockey William Buick blew a kiss to the crowd after crossing the finish line. “I can’t believe it. This is surreal,” he said. “I didn’t look back. I just kept going.”

Credit: Dubai Racing Club/Andrew Watkins

American challengers California Chrome, who went in as the favorite, and Lea came second and third respectively. Defending Dubai World Cup champion African Story finished sixth.

California Chrome jockey Victor Espinoza said California Chrome “ran awesome,” gamely enduring some jostling around the turns. “It seemed like the other horses were bumping me around in there on the first turn and then on the far turn,” Espinoza said. “He kind of lost his stride a little bit on the (home) turn because the horse on the inside (Hokko Tarumae) pushed me out. That kind of took some of the air out of his lungs.”

Co-owner Steve Coburn was emotional at the finish, hugging the jockey and kissing California Chrome on the nose. “You ran your eyeballs out,” he said, a bit choked up. “You are still America’s horse.”

“It seemed like the other horses were bumping me around in there on the first turn and then on the far turn,” Espinoza said. “He kind of lost his stride a little bit on the (home) turn because the horse on the inside (Hokko Tarumae) pushed me out. That kind of took some of the air out of his lungs.”

Credit: Dubai Racing Club/Neville Hopwood

Jockey Joel Rosario said of third-place finisher Lea, who got boxed in on the rail, “He ran his race—it was a very good race. He was always there for me, every time I asked him. I was on the inside and he didn’t like to be there. He kept trying and going. When I turned for home, if I had a little room, I think I could have been second.”

Fortunately for the owners of California Chrome and Lea, the runner-up consolation prizes aren’t too shabby: $2 million and $1 million respectively. Yeah… we think you guys will be OK.

Race replay:

Results:

1st — Prince Bishop (IRE) William Buick
2rd — California Chrome (USA) Victor Espinoza
3rd — Lea (USA) Joel Rosario
4th — Candy Boy (USA) Patrick Dobbs
5th — Hokko Tarumae (JPN) Hideaki Miyuki
6th — African Story (GB) James Doyle
7th — Long River (USA) Mickael Barzalona
8th — Side Glance (GB) Andrea Atzeni
9th — Epiphaneia (JPN) Christophe Soumillon

Go Riding.