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Thursday, January 12, 2017Contact: Rhonda Norby (859) 224-2856
California Chrome Earns Highest Equibase Speed Figure of 2016

Equibase today released the final lists of the top Equibase Speed Figures earned in each racing division during 2016. The lists for current and past years are available through the North American Racing Leaders section of equibase.com

California Chrome earned the top figure of the year – a 132 for his 12-length romp in the Winter Challenge Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course on December 17. Owned by California Chrome LLC, California Chrome earned the top figure in his final start of the year, completing the 8 1/2-furlong Winter Challenge in a track record time of 1:40.03.

Horse of the Year in 2014 and a finalist for the same honor in 2016, California Chrome won six other races last year in addition to his top-ranked performance, including the Dubai World Cup, Pacific Classic, and Awesome Again Stakes. California Chrome is expected to make the final start of his career in the inaugural $12 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational at Gulfstream Park on January 28.

“The Winter Challenge race was fun because he got to finally run where he’s been based and the Los Alamitos fans really enjoyed it,” said California Chrome’s trainer, Art Sherman. “He ran five wide the whole way around and did it with such ease. It was the perfect prep for the Pegasus and I’m thrilled it also earned him the top speed figure of the year.”

Rounding out the top three winning performances of 2016 by Equibase Speed Figures were Tourist, who earned a 128 for his victory in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita, and Photo Call (Ire), who earned a 127 for her victory in the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland. 

The chart below shows the top Equibase Speed Figures earned in 2016 by Eclipse Award categories with the horse, race name, and track.

Top

 

Category

 

Horse

 

Race Name

 

Track

119

2 Yr. Old Male

Bavaro

New York Stallion Series Stakes

Aqueduct

108

2 Yr. Old Filly

Shane’s Girlfriend

$400,000 Delta Downs Princess Stakes

Delta Downs

108

2 Yr. Old Filly

Unique Bella

Maiden Special Weight

Del Mar

124

3 Yr. Old Male

Arrogate

Breeders’ Cup Classic

Santa Anita

120

3 Yr. Old Filly

Queen’s Trust (GB)

Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf

Santa Anita

132

Older Dirt Male

California Chrome 

Winter Challenge Stakes

Los Alamitos Race Course

118

Older Dirt Female

Bar of Gold

Empire Distaff Handicap

Belmont Park

125

Male Sprinter

Story to Tell

Starter Allowance

Aqueduct

117

Female Sprinter

Bibby

Allowance

Keeneland

117

Female Sprinter

Paulasilverlining

Allowance Optional Claiming

Aqueduct

117

Female Sprinter

Stonetastic

Regret Stakes

Monmouth Park

128

Male Turf Horse

Tourist

Breeders’ Cup Mile

Santa Anita

127

Female Turf Horse

Photo Call (Ire)

First Lady Stakes

Keeneland


The Equibase Speed Figure is the world’s most widely distributed speed figure and is published in more than 13 million official past performance programs sold in North America annually. The figure is a numerical assessment of the quality of a horse’s final time in a North American Thoroughbred race. 

Equibase Company is a partnership between subsidiaries of The Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America and serves as the Thoroughbred industry’s official database. Through its website, mobile platform and mobile applications, Equibase offers a comprehensive array of free statistical information as well as premium handicapping products and reports in support of the North American Thoroughbred racing industry.