From DMTC Publicity
DEL MAR, Calif. (July 14, 2016) — California Chrome got down to the business of training for the Grade II $200,000 San Diego Handicap on July 23 with his first trip to the Del Mar track early Thursday morning.
And, in the course of that, admirably performed the side duties of equine media star that come with being the all-time leading money-winner and No. 1 ranked active runner in North America.
Under exercise rider Dihigi Gladney, California Chrome went to the track at 5:45 a.m. with a contingent of local San Diego TV station crews in tow. The career winner of $12,532,650, the bulk of it via a win in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in March, entered at the gap at the six-furlong chute on the backstretch, “backtracked” past the finish line, turned and galloped 1 ¾ miles around the oval before being returned to the stable of trainer Art Sherman.
“He looks super,” Sherman said.
“He was fresh,” Gladney said, an encouraging statement to his large loyal fan base, dubbed “Chromies,” wondering about how the champion has withstood the rigors of the more than 16,000-mile round trip from California to Dubai and back. The San Diego will mark California Chrome’s first start since the overseas triumph and is the first of five planned starts – the first two here at Del Mar – before the 5-year-old California-bred son of Lucky Pulpit will likely be retired.
California Chrome travelled from Los Alamitos to Del Mar Wednesday, arriving in the early afternoon. “He came off the van walking on his hind legs,” Gladney said. “I thought ‘Here we go, it’s Dubai all over again.”
Following the exercise, California Chrome was washed and cooled out while cameras rolled providing live feeds or tape for later use. Upon being returned to his stall, California Chrome put his head out over the webbing and whinnied for those who might want audio.
“He loves it when there’s a crowd around like this, but when he’s on the track he stays focused,” Gladney said. “Nothing bothers him, nothing spooks him.”
Another trip to the track, under quieter circumstances Friday morning will set California Chrome up for his final serious work Saturday before the San Diego. He’s scheduled to work five furlongs, probably with Gladney in the irons, in a time frame starting at 7:45 a.m. when the track will be open only to California Chrome and other San Diego Handicap horses. Weights for the San Diego will be announced Sunday.