By Bloodhorse.com
CYPRESS, Calif. (Nov. 21, 2015) — Even after his first serious workout in just more than eight months, California Chrome wanted more.
It’s become somewhat of a habit for the 2014 Horse of the Year. After he hits the wire, he doesn’t want to pull up, and it was business as usual Nov. 21, when he covered three furlongs in :37 3/5 at Los Alamitos Race Course.
“Boy, he’s galloping out strong,” assistant trainer Alan Sherman said as he watched the 4-year-old Lucky Pulpit colt gallop beyond the wire, out to four furlongs in :50 1/5, which will be the official time on his worktab. “He doesn’t want to stop. Look at him. Easy there, big boy.”
According to Los Alamitos clocker Russ Hudak, last year’s dual classic winner started “off a bit slow” under regular exercise rider Dihigi Gladney, and ran the first eighth of the drill in :14, but quickened in the stretch to run the final quarter to the wire in :23 3/5. He worked under the watchful gaze of owners Perry Martin and Frank Taylor, as well as trainer Art Sherman.
“He’s muscling up. He’s got a lot of air power,” the elder Sherman said. “I watch him now, when he gallops out, you think he might be getting a little tired, but he gets stronger when he gallops out, so that’s a good sign. It shows he wants to do more and I like that a lot.
“He’s done that ever since I’ve had him. Every time I work him, when he goes past the wire, he cuts. It’s the darndest thing. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to pull him up, because I think he goes faster when you try to get a good hold of him.”