California Dreamin’ About the Kentucky Derby

Derby hype is reaching a fever pitch in California – the home of this year’s early favorite for Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, a flashy chestnut colt by the name of California Chrome. He is currently listed at 11/5 odds as seen here at Kentucky-Derby-Online-Betting.com.

Santa Anita Racetrack, which for the first time will conduct a live race meet during the Triple Crown races, is touting the “biggest Derby party west of Kentucky.” It will include a hat contest, California Chrome T-shirts, a craft beer garden, food trucks, and a gourmet BBQ in an exclusive VIP area.

The excitement is understandable. If California Chrome lives up to expectations with a victory in Saturday’s Run for the Roses, he will be only the fourth California-bred Derby winner and the first one in more than 50 years, joining the ranks of Morvich (1922), Swaps (1955) and Decidedly (1962).

California Chrome was an impressive 5-length winner of the Grade I, $1 million Santa Anita Derby April 5.  In 78 runnings of the Santa Anita Derby, only three horses have run the historic race faster than California Chrome. He put in his final work before the Kentucky Derby on Saturday morning, going four furlongs at his Los Alamitos headquarters in 48 1/5 under regular rider Victor Espinoza. He shipped to Churchill Downs Monday, apparently taking everything in stride.

 “He’s my Swaps,” said Trainer Art Sherman, who is making his first trip to the Kentucky Derby as a trainer. “I’m very humbled to have a horse like this.” Things have come full circle for Sherman, who at the age of 18 accompanied Swaps to Louisville as his regular exercise rider.

Owned by his breeders, Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, California Chrome is a chestnut colt by Lucky Pulpit out of the mare Love the Chase. He has won six races from 10 starts and has been second once while earning $1,134,850. Now the hopes and dreams of the entire state rest with him as he seeks to become the first California-bred since 1962 to win the Kentucky Derby.

“He’s a Cal-Bred, but he doesn’t know that!” said co-owner Steve Coburn.

California pride will certainly be on display at Santa Anita, Los Alamitos, and all of the California off-track wagering locations on Saturday.

The west coast post time for the 140th Derby is at 3:24 p.m. The first live race post time at Santa Anita on Saturday is at 11:30 a.m.

Jockey Joe Talamo on his Way to Kentucky Derby

Talamo at Clockers' Corner, Santa Anita, April 27, 2010.

A crew from ESPN was out at Clockers' Corner Tuesday morning to interview jockey Joe Talamo before he headed to Churchill Downs to ride Santa Anita Derby winner Sidney's Candy in the 136th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1.

Talamo spoke about the thrill he experienced last year when, at the tender age of 19, he made the trip to Louisville to ride in his first Kentucky Derby, only to experience the ultimate disappointment when his mount, I Want Revenge, the early favorite, was scratched before the race.

ESPN crew sets up for interview with Talamo at Santa Anita.

Talamo is incredibly gracious and well spoken and seems always to have a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. We look forward to watching segments of his interview during ESPN's coverage of the Derby. Here's wishing him the best of racing luck this year!

"Run for the Roses: The Kentucky Derby and the Business of Horse Racing" on CNBC Tonight at 9 PM

CNBC's primetime original program, Run for the Roses: The Kentucky Derby and the Business of Horse Racing, anchored by Melissa Francis, and premiering Thursday, April 30, at 9PM and 1AM ET takes a behind-the-scenes look at the horse racing industry, spotlighting the premier race in the triple crown.

CNBC explores the continually expanding, publicly traded Churchill Downs which now includes the online wagering service Twinspires.com, a 50% stake in Horseracing Television, a $121 million renovation of the main site, and racetracks in Chicago, Miami Gardens, Fla. and New Orleans.

"Run for the Roses" also offers a breakdown of money that surrounds this storied race including the $200 million that is pumped into the Louisville economy, the $100 million-plus in bets, and the $2 million purse.

Interview subjects include Mike Iavarone, CEO of International Equine Acquisitions Holdings, Inc./owner of past Derby champion Big Brown; Chris McCarron, Hall of Fame jockey; Steven Crist, Racing Form publisher, Andrew Beyer, Washington Post horse-racing columnist/author; John Asher, Churchill Downs historian, and Kentucky Derby legend/Hall of Fame jockey Pat Day.