China Horse Club has become the latest ownership group to buy a share of 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome , Frank Taylor, vice president of boarding operations for co-owner Taylor Made Farm, confirmed Oct. 21.
Taylor Made partnered with majority owner Perry Martin and bought into California Chrome last summer. According to Taylor, the farm has retained 11 shares in the son of Lucky Pulpit with approximately 15-20 other shareholders coming on board, including China Horse Club.
"We're just adding one partner at a time and our criteria is, we want good partners who have good mares who will really support the horse," Taylor said.
Califiornia Chrome is the heavy favorite for the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) at Santa Anita Park Nov. 5. China Horse Club also owns Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (gr. IT) contender Good Samaritan in partnership with WinStar Farm, as well as an interest in WinStar stallion Daredevil .
Trained by Art Sherman, California Chrome is unbeaten in six starts this season with his most recent victory coming when he won the Oct. 1 Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I) in facile fashion by 2 1/4 lengths at Santa Anita.
"They weighed him yesterday and he's at 1,100 pounds," Taylor said. "So he's actually gained weight since the last race."
