The saga of California Chrome is over and, yes, Chromies will lament the absence of a storybook end. His ninth-place finish to the brilliant Arrogate in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Saturday was not what Hollywood had in mind.

But the finale does not overshadow a tremendous body of work. And the memories created by the two-time Horse of the Year, North America’s all-time leading earner, will last a lifetime.

His rags-to-riches rise was as improbable as the come. Horses of his kind, from a sire and dam that seemingly offered little, are not supposed to go on to win the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Pacific Classic and the Dubai World Cup, among others.

Who could have imagined that Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, men of relatively modest means, would invest $10,500 in their first breeding venture and strike gold? Who could have imagined that Art Sherman, after decades of seeing horses come and go through his barn, would become the oldest trainer to win a Derby at 77? Who could have imagined that Victor Espinoza, a former bus driver in Mexico City, would land the ride of a lifetime?

California Chrome’s legendary career reminds us all that the seemingly impossible is possible in racing – and in life.

That is perhaps a large statement, but not given the circumstances. There was little or nothing to suggest that sending the dam Love the Chase to Lucky Pulpit would produce a chestnut powerhouse with striking white markings known as “chrome.”

Love the Chase was doomed as a runner by an impossible combination. She lacked size and speed, leading to one victory in six starts.

Greg Gilchrist, her trainer through her first four starts, told Sports Illustrated, “She was small when we bought her and she never did grow. She [ran] her heart out, but she didn’t have much ability.”

Monty Meier, Love the Chase’s trainer when she finished up the track in her last two starts, was quoted in the same article as saying, “She was a nervous filly and she never ran very well for me. She was pretty looking and fairly well-bred, but I never thought for a minute she would produce a monster like California Chrome.”

Lucky Pulpit was from a fine sire in Pulpit. Other than that, there was nothing to distinguish him as he came up empty in 19 of 22 starts. He labored with a breathing problem. His disposition was difficult, a nice way of saying ornery. His stud fee was all of $2,000.

Coburn and Martin formed “Dumb-Ass Partners” because, upon their purchase of Love the Chase, a groom cracked, “Anyone who decides to buy this horse is a dumb ass.”

California Chrome in the Pegasus World Cup post parade. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Chrome required careful handling, and Sherman made all the right moves. He had learned his lessons at a young age, rocking and rolling in a dusty rail car and sleeping on a bale of hay as he accompanied Swaps on a journey from Los Angeles to Louisville to win the 1955 Kentucky Derby. He had gone on to become a jockey in 1957 and a trainer in 1980.

Although Sherman did well enough, there was nothing to suggest he would come to national prominence in the twilight of his career. He had never trained the winner of a $1 million race until Chrome dominated the Santa Anita Derby by 5 ¼ lengths. Espinoza, who hopped aboard after Chrome’s 2-for-6 start, kept his whip at his side throughout that tour de force at Santa Anita.

Chrome was a geared-down victor by 1 ¾ lengths when he became the fourth California-bred and the first since Decidedly in 1962 to bring home the roses in the Kentucky Derby. California Chrome also won the Preakness, raising hopes for a Triple Crown that was not to be. He nonetheless went on to be 2014’s Horse of the Year.

Yes, there were wrong turns in the road. Chrome went winless in only two starts as a 4-year-old, but he rebounded to produce a campaign last year that was one for the ages, from his facile 3 ¾-length victory in the Dubai World Cup to his ridden-out laugher against Beholder in the Pacific Classic and even to his valiant runner-up finish to Arrogate in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Sherman has often described the saga of Chrome as “ridiculous,” saying none of it made sense. But this is racing, a sport that is wonderfully unpredictable from the time of conception.