Sunday 21 September 2014 10:18, UK
California Chrome, winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, could finish only sixth on his return to action in the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx racecourse.
Off the track since June when he failed in his Triple Crown bid in the Belmont, California Chrome was keen early on and while jockey Victor Espinoza tried to settle him, Bayern stole an early lead which he maintained all the way to the line.Despite the disappointing performance, California Chrome's trainer Art Sherman reported the Breeders' Cup Classic to still be the intended target and Espinoza said he felt that the race would serve as a good prep for that big-race date.
He told www.bloodhorse.com: "The other riders, they worried about me, they didn't worry about the one in the front (Bayern), and I knew I was in trouble in the first turn.
"They were, like, blocking in front of me, and it was hard to catch the other horse. Sometimes the other ones don't ride to win, they ride to beat horses. But, I really didn't abuse him too much today. I just let him run his race. I didn't want to override him.
"He had a long time off. This race, it set him up for the next one."
