SANTA ANITA SATURDAY

THE 2014 Horse of the Year California Chrome makes his return to the track when he faces tough opposition and a possible wet track in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita tonight.

The five-year-old, owned by a syndicate that includes co-breeder Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farm faces seven other older horses in his first race since a second-place finish in Dubai World Cup last March.

Racing over a muddy track might not be ideal for California Chrome but connections still feel he can handle an off track. He has won on every other type of surface he’s tried in his career - fast dirt, synthetic, and turf.

His main rival appears to be Bob Baffert’s Grade 1 winner Hoppertunity who hasn’t won since last year’s San Pasqual.

However, the son of Any Given Saturday has finished second in Grade 1s on two of his last three starts, in the Awesome Again and Clark Handicap.

The other Grade 1 winner in the field is Hard Aces who took the Gold Cup at Santa Anita in the summer. He finished sixth the Breeders’ Cup Classic last time out. Blingo and Imperative also bring grade stakes-winners.

SELECTION: Hoppertunity

Next best: California Chrome