By Bloodhorse.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (July 20, 2016) — Back in his namesake state for more than three months now, California Chrome is set to resume his 2016 campaign July 23 in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) at Del Mar, where he’ll take on fellow multiple grade I winner Dortmund.
Since moving south from his Los Alamitos Race Course base a week ago, California Chrome has been doing very well according to trainer Art Sherman, including an impressive five-furlong breeze July 16 at the seaside racetrack.
BALAN: California Chrome Brilliant in Del Mar Breeze
“He’s doing great—schooling great, galloping great,” Sherman said of the 5-year-old’s week of preparation.
Sherman also felt good about the 2014 Horse of the Year’s draw—sixth in the field of seven—for the 1 1/16 mile event, his first contest since a standout score in the March 26 Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).
“That’s perfect,” Sherman said. “I like it on the outside and it’s a good post for him. He’s won from all post positions, but outside you get to see what horses show speed and don’t need to rush.”
Kaleem Shah’s Dortmund drew post 2, just outside of fellow grade I winner Hard Aces, in his first start since he won the Nov. 28 Native Diver (gr. III), also at Del Mar. The massive son of Big Brown began training toward his comeback right alongside California Chrome at Los Alamitos for trainer Bob Baffert before recording two July workouts at Santa Anita Park and his last, a 1:12 flat move July 17, at Del Mar.
Hronis Racing’s Hard Aces, trained by John Sadler, struck gold in the 2015 Santa Anita Gold Cup (gr. I), in the absence of California Chrome following his World Cup run that year, but has yet to find the winner’s circle in nine races since. The son of Hard Spun has, however, hit the board in three of his last four starts, all in graded company, including a third-place run in the 2016 Gold Cup June 25.
The rest of the field is ambitiously hoping to break through against two of the top horses in the country for the last two years.
Graded stakes-placed runners Soi Phet, Crittenden, and Win the Space fill out the field, along with Follow Me Crev, who won four straight allowance races before a fifth-place finish in the Californian (gr. II) May 22 off a more than three-month layoff.