‘Chrome Has Final Classic Prep

Oct 25, 2014 Posted by In Uncategorized

By Bloodhorse.com

CYPRESS, Calif. (Oct. 25, 2014) —

California Chrome turned in his final pre-Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr. I) work Oct. 25 at Los Alamitos Racecourse, clocking a sharp five furlongs in :59 3/5 under jockey Victor Espinoza.

Afterward, trainer Art Sherman was enthusiastic in his assessment of California Chrome’s conditioning in advance of the 1 1/4-mile Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 1 at Santa Anita Park

Steve Coburn and Perry Martin’s winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Preakness Stakes (gr. I) is seeking redemption off a sixth-place finish in the Sept. 20 Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) won by Classic rival Bayern. It was his first start off a brief layup that followed a fourth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) behind another BC Classic contender, Tonalist.

Los Alamitos clockers caught California Chrome in splits of :24 1/5 and :48, with a gallop out in 1:12. The chestnut colt cantered to the pole with the pony and broke off like a bullet on the backside. He keenly cruised around the turn before sailing down the lane well within himself, Espinoza quiet in the irons.
California Chrome’s five-furlong time was the second swiftest of 20 on the morning at Los Alamitos.
The Sherman trainee has prepped for the Classic with a solid series of works every Saturday in the month of October, beginning with a bullet four furlongs Oct. 4 in :47 2/5. That was followed by five furlongs Oct. 11 in :59 3/5, and six furlongs Oct. 18 in 1:12 1/5.
Before losing his bid for the Triple Crown, California Chrome made the Kentucky Derby and Preakness part of a six-race win streak begun with the King Glorious Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park Dec. 22. He won the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) and Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) at Santa Anita before leaving California to claim two of the country’s most prestigious 3-year-old races.
“He’s training like his old self, like he trained even before the Santa Anita Derby,” Art Sherman said. “I’m really pumped up. I just know that you haven’t seen the real California Chrome run again since he was on that winning streak.”
Sherman said he wasn’t bothered by the fact that the California-bred Lucky Pulpit   colt will not be the favorite in the Classic. California Chrome has gone off as the bettors’ choice in his past six starts, but that nod will likely go to undefeated sophomore Shared Belief.
“Let the pressure be on Shared Belief,” Sherman said. “I look for California Chrome to run a big race. He had kind of a precarious race under his belt (in the Pennsylvania Derby) and I look for him to bounce back pretty darn good right now.”
Following the Belmont Stakes, California Chrome had a five-week freshening at Harris Farms, where he was foaled. He returned to the Sherman Racing stable July 17.
“I’ve been pumped up ever since we’ve gotten back in training (following the Pennsylvania Derby),” Sherman said. “I noticed his attitude is different; he wants to do something, I know he’s run big at Santa Anita, so it’ll be like going back to his home track.”
California Chrome will ship to Santa Anita Sunday, Oct. 26 around 5 a.m. PDT. He is expected to jog Monday and gallop Tuesday, assistant trainer Alan Sherman said.

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