California Chrome heads Arlington Million nominees

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Arlington Heights, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Reigning Horse of the Year California Chrome is one of 78 thoroughbreds nominated to this year's 33rd Arlington Million at Arlington Park.

Owned by Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, California Chrome won last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness to eventually garner Eclipse Awards as Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old. The chestnut colt is trained by Art Sherman and ridden by Victor Espinoza who is the jockey for this year's top 3-year-old American Pharoah.

California Chrome is scheduled to compete on June 17 in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting in England. He was second in this year's Dubai World Cup and San Antonio Stakes. California Chrome won last year's Hollywood Derby on the turf at Del Mar.

A Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In' Challenge Race, the 1 1/4-mile Million also attracted the nominations of last year's winner Hardest Core, 2012 champ Little Mike and 2014 champion turf horse Main Sequence.

The Arlington Million XXXIII is the centerpiece of the International Festival of Racing on Aug. 15