We continue to follow the saga of City Chapel, as we have since he was claimed by Owner and Trainer Victor Trujillo back in August for $4,000 out of a race in which City Chapel went to post at Final Odds of 29.8-1. City Chapel made his seventh start for the Trujillo barn Friday at Golden Gate Fields, competing in a Claiming Race ($6,250 NW2L) run at a distance of eight and a half furlongs on the plastic main track. According to the chart of the race, City Chapel (Final Odds 3.6-1) "saved ground early, settled to the half, raced three wide to the stretch but went evenly through the final furlong" and finished fourth, three lengths behind the winner, Cheezy Breezy (3.9-1).
City Chapel's fourth place finish was worth $675 in purse money, bringing his total purse winnings for Trujillo to $8,925; not too shabby for a four grand purchase. It should, however, be noted that City Chapel has yet to record a victory for the Trujillo barn. While the lack of victories does have the benefit of allowing City Chapel to continue to compete in the Non-Winners of Two Lifetime class, I think it's fair to say that Trujillo would much prefer seeing this gelding get its picture taken at the end of a race. That would explain the recent class drops for City Chapel, even though the horse has shown the ability to finish in the money at higher levels. But it appears that City Chapel's inability to lead the pack home is more a matter of psychology rather than physiology, as the horse seems to nearly always be close to the leader, while not being the leader, when it's time to pass under the wire.
And so we'll continue to follow City Chapel as he runs under the guidance of Trainer Trujillo, and watch how this story unfolds. Will Trujillo continue to drop City Chapel in class in an effort the get this gelding into the Winners Circle? Or will Trujillo move him back up in class, content to simply collect the purse offerings from City Chapel's tantalizingly close to the winner finishes?
Peace and Love,
Jimbo
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