California Chrome, leading by a length at the head of the stretch, could not withstand the charge of Shared Belief, who responded to the whip riding of Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith in upper stretch.

Before a crowd of 21,522, Shared Belief surged past in deep stretch under a hand ride on his way to a convincing win by 1 1/2 lengths.

"I can't even describe that performance," Smith said. "He ranks right up there with the top five horses I have ever been on, with room to grow.

“It really was so impressive. There's no telling what this horse can do or the potential that he can reach. I think he still has room to grow."

Hoppertunity finished 6 1/2 lengths behind California Chrome in third.

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Shared Belief was the 2YO champion of 2013 and now boasts a superb career record nine wins from 10 starts.

Coming off a neck victory in the G1 Malibu Stakes on December 26 at Santa Anita, Shared Belief boosted his career earnings to $2,332,200.

He only loss was in the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic in which he finished one spot behind California Chrome in fourth after getting bumped off stride at the break.

Hollendorfer said he did not see the San Antonio result as vindication for Shared Belief.

"No, I'm just happy to win this race and that's the honest truth. I don't care what happened before,” he said.

“I care what happened right now and what happens in the future. California Chrome has a big following, deservedly so.

“He deserved to be Horse of the Year. If things had gone a little bit different, I might have got a chance, but you can't always get things to go your way."

California Chrome’s trainer Art Sherman saw it the same way.

"Jerry's horse is the real McCoy. My horse is very good, too; we just got outrun," said Sherman.

"It was a great race. I'm proud of my horse. He didn't give up; he ran his eyeballs out."

California Chrome was making his first start since taking the G1 Hollywood Derby at his first start on turf at Del Mar on November 29.

Rounding the far turn, jockey Victor Espinoza allowed California Chrome to go for an early run but Smith never allowed him to get too far from Shared Belief, who came out of the bend poised for the drive.

California Chrome appeared to be going the better of the two at the head of the lane, but Shared Belief made up the slight deficit after getting encouragement from Smith.
"For two months off, it was a good race for him, a good effort," Espinoza said of California Chrome. "He will be better the next race."

Coming off a neck victory in the G1 Malibu Stakes on December 26 at Santa Anita, Shared Belief boosted his career earnings to $2,332,200.

It's possible Shared Belief and California Chrome could renew their budding rivalry in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap on March 7, a race that could also include BC Classic winner Bayern.
"Hopefully they get to meet again," Smith said. "They're two great champions, they're going to battle back and forth.

“Hopefully we see a race between the three of them again, Shared Belief, California Chrome, and Bayern."

California Chrome's connections have stated an interest in going to Dubai for the World Cup on March 28.