Texas Chrome won the Grade 3, $400,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs but it wasn’t easy. He pulled even with the front running Dalmore in the final turn and won a battle down the stretch to take the victory by 1/2 length.

The win was the sixth stakes victory of Texas Chrome’s career but definitely the biggest. It was also the richest career payday for his connections–owner Danny Keene, trainer J.R. Caldwell, and jockey C.J. McMahon. His connections deserve a ton of credit as they drew up the perfect tactical plan which Texas Chrome executed perfectly. Jockey McMahon positioned Texas Chrome just off the pace set by runner up Dalmore who set fractions of 24.59 seconds for the opening quarter and 49.13 for the half-mile. Dalmore went three wide in the final turn which gave Texas Chrome his opportunity. A clever inside move by jockey McMahon got him even at the top of the stretch. Texas Chrome won the battle down to the wire and got his head in front at the right time for a win.

Jockey McMahon recounted the move that put his horse in a position to win: “Coming up to the five-sixteenths pole, I saw a hole open up and I opted to go for it and he showed me he was game to go and so was I. He accelerated and he finished phenomenally for me.”

Texas Chrome earned his way into the Super Derby with a victory in the Prelude Stakes one month ago. Trainer Caldwell said that his horse came out of the Prelude in great shape: “He came out of the Prelude so well. As well as he came off of his last race, and the way he’s been training, and he had a trip across the track, I didn’t think they could outrun him. You hate to be that confident, but I knew I had the horse. Everything went right for the horse and it was our day.”

Next up for Texas Chrome is the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park. Texas Chrome went off as the 2-1 third betting choice and paid $6.20, $3, and $2.60. Dalmore paid $3 and $2.40 for his second place finish while Whateverbodywants returned $3.80 to show.