From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 23, 2014) — California Chrome was none the worse for wear following his disappointing sixth-place finish in Saturday’s Pennsylvania Derby behind Bayern, who was ridden and rated perfectly by Martin Garcia.
“He came back fine,” trainer Art Sherman said from his Los Alamitos headquarters. “He looks good. He didn’t have the greatest trip in the world, but we’ll live to fight another day.”
That would be in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.
“I was blocked a little bit,” said California Chrome’s regular rider, Victor Espinoza, at Clockers’ Corner Tuesday morning. “They slowed down pretty good on the first turn (going the first quarter in a leisurely 24 seconds). That kind of hurt me right there.
“It was a little stressful for me because I wanted to let him go, but I had nowhere to go and no room to go. Nevertheless, he ran a good race, and for his being away for such a long time (since June 7, when the Kentucky Derby winner dead-heated for fourth in the Belmont Stakes), things like that will happen.
“Now he has a month before his next race. I think he’ll be 100 percent.”