Cheiron Gets By in a Pinch in Stretch of Snow Chief

A week before they try to win a more significant 3-year-old race at Churchill Downs, trainer Kristin Mulhall and owner Steve Taub picked up a nice prize at Hollywood Park on Saturday.

Mulhall and Taub, who will be represented by Imperialism in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, took the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes, the richest race on Hollywood Park’s $1.3-million California Gold Rush program, with 9-5 favorite Cheiron.

A gray son of Maria’s Mon, whom Taub owns in partnership with Noctis LLC and prominent attorney Neil Papiano, squeezed through a narrow opening between horses in the stretch to beat pacesetter Don’tsellmeshort and six others in the Snow Chief.

In winning for the third time in nine starts, Cheiron provided jockey Alex Solis with his second victory on the afternoon. Earlier, he had won the $150,000 B. Thoughtful with Royally Chosen, who at 9-2 held on to beat favored Summer Wind Dancer by a head.

“He’s a very brave horse,” said Solis, who had never ridden Cheiron before Saturday. “I was trapped actually and I saw a little hole. If I didn’t go through there, I never would have won.

“When I asked him, he went for it. He pushed himself through there. He’s a very nice horse.”

A race before the Snow Chief, Black Bart, a 6-1 longshot who was claimed for $16,000 by trainer Troy Bainum for owner Tom Metzger Sr. on Dec. 19, led start to finish under veteran rider Sandi Gann, who has battled through a series of devastating injuries, to beat millionaire Continental Red and favored Lennyfromalibu in the $150,000 Khaled Stakes.

This was the fifth victory in six starts for Black Bart since the claim. His only loss was by a head to favored Irish Warrior in the Turf Paradise Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Feb. 7.

“Every time he hits the track, he thinks he owns it,” said Bainum, who is based at Turf Paradise.

“I can’t be happier and just want to thank Tom Metzger for giving me a shot to claim this horse. I’m speechless right now, I can’t believe it.”

In addition to Solis, Corey Nakatani and Victor Espinoza also had multiple victories.

Nakatani was aboard 1-10 favorite Yearly Report in his easy victory in the $200,000 Melair Stakes, won the $60,000 Pepper Oaks Farm with first-time starter Brand Name, then clicked with 20-1 longshot The Yellow Sheet in the finale, the $70,000 Warren’s Thoroughbreds.

Yearly Report and Brand Name are trained by Bob Baffert.

Espinoza, who leads all riders with nine Gold Rush victories through the first five years of the event, won the $150,000 Tiznow with favored Beau Soleil and the $70,000 Golden Eagle Farm Stakes with 7-1 longshot Throw Me A Curve.

The other winners on the day were Moscow Burning in the $150,000 Fran’s Valentine under Kent Desormeaux and Alphabet Kisses in the $60,000 Magali Farms with apprentice Mick Ruis.

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Singletary, the 7-10 favorite, overtook pacesetter and second choice Captain Squire approaching the wire to win the $150,000 San Francisco Breeders’ Cup Mile at Bay Meadows.

Owned by Little Red Feather Racing and trained by Don Chatlos, Jr., Singletary completed the distance on turf in 1:36.01 under jockey Jose Valdivia Jr.

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Kela ($12.80) and jockey David Nuesch cruised to victory over a sloppy track in the $300,000 Texas Mile at Lone Star Park. Mike Mitchell trains the winner for owner Jay Manoogian.

The final time was 1:35.64. Supah Blitz was second and pacesetter Yessirgeneralsir finished third. Snorter, who had won three in a row in California for owners Gary and Mary West and trainer Bobby Frankel, was fourth under jockey David Flores.

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With her 32-1 upset on Chilly Rooster in the $111,400 Fort Marcy Handicap at Aqueduct, jockey Shannon Uske is believed to be the youngest female rider to have won a graded stakes race. Uske turned 18 on March 1.

Trained by Allen Jerkens for Hobeau Farm, Chilly Rooster prevailed by a half-length over 50-1 outsider Union Place while covering the 1 1/16 miles on turf in 1:42.47.