By Bloodhorse.com
ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2016) — California Chrome , North America’s all-time leading money earner, arrived by van at Santa Anita Park Sept. 25 to begin final preparations for the $300,000 Awesome Again Stakes (gr. I) Oct. 1, the final major steppingstone to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) Nov. 5.
Owned by California Chrome LLC, a partnership consisting of Perry and Denise Martin, Taylor Made Farm, and several prominent breeders, the 5-year-old California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit has earnings of $13,252,650 and will be in search of his sixth consecutive victory on Saturday.
“The trip was uneventful,” said assistant trainer Alan Sherman, following California Chrome’s 34-mile freeway trek from his home base at Los Alamitos Race Course. “He’s a trooper. He doesn’t mind traveling, that’s for sure. He’ll jog tomorrow on the main track and we’ll go out with him at about 7 (a.m.).”
Fresh off a five-length score in the Pacific Classic (gr. I) Aug. 20 at Del Mar, California Chrome began his current five-race winning streak at Santa Anita Jan. 9, with an impressive victory in the San Pasqual Stakes (gr. II).
BALAN: California Chrome Superior in Pacific Classic
Tentative plans call for the chestnut horse to conclude his racing career by running in the $12 million Pegasus World Cup (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 28.
Following the Pegasus Wrold Cup, California Chrome is expected to begin stud duty at Taylor Made in Kentucky.
The Awesome Again is one of five grade I Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Challenge races at Santa Anita Saturday that reward the winner in each a fees-paid berth in their corresponding races on Nov. 4-5.