By Bloodhorse.com
CYPRESS, Calif. (June 18, 2016) — As Art Sherman prepares California Chrome for his next start in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap (gr. II) with weekly timed workouts, the trainer seems to be more concerned with what happens after the wire than before.
So when the 2014 Horse of the Year powered through the clubhouse turn at Los Alamitos Race Course, with a gallop out to six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 under regular exercise rider Dihigi Gladney June 18, Sherman was more than pleased from his post on the patio at Schwanies At The Gap.
The 5-year-old son of Lucky Pulpit hit the wire in :59 1/5 for five furlongs, by far his swiftest breeze since returning to the Sherman barn in early May, but it was the finishing touch that again impressed his trainer.
“The last part is where he kicks it in and the finish—once he goes out and goes around that turn—that shows his stamina is getting stronger,” Sherman said. “His gallop-out each time is stronger. He’s really going seven-eighths of a mile. It doesn’t look like it, but that’s what he does. He does everything kinda effortlessly.”
The most striking aspect of California Chrome’s work Saturday morning may have been the fitness he showed in the long stretch at Los Alamitos during his weekly private 5:30 a.m. PDT session at the Orange County racetrack. Los Al clocker Russ Hudak timed the chestnut’s first quarter-mile in :24 1/5 and the half in :47 2/5 before Gladney opened him up to run the final furlong to the wire in :11 4/5. But as he moved through the stretch, California Chrome barely made a sound, showing no signs of strain or labored breathing.
“He really kicked it in gear,” Sherman said.
For a few weeks, Sherman has indicated the “serious” work for California Chrome will begin when the trainer adds blinkers, but he playfully declined to comment on how soon that might happen.
“If he had blinkers on today, it would have been :58. I’m going to surprise you all with blinkers one morning,” Sherman said with a laugh.