From DMTC Publicity
DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 27, 2014) — Trainer Art Sherman eschewed his usual mezzanine-tier viewing spot in the grandstand for a ground-level one on the Jimmy Durante Turf Course as California Chrome went through a gallop on the grass Thursday morning just prior to 7 a.m.
The purpose of the drill for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, with exercise rider Willie Delgado up, was to reaffirm Sherman’s thoughts that his star was ready for his first grass race, Saturday’s $300,000 Grade I, 1 1/8 mile Hollywood Derby.
Reaffirmation accomplished.
“They had a hard time pulling him up (on the backstretch), he was on the bit pretty good,” Sherman said as he turned to cross the track back to the grandstand. “Now I feel a lot better. I liked it. It was just what I wanted.”
California Chrome drew the No. 5 post position in a field of six. The Hollywood Derby goes as the eighth on a nine-race program, with a post time of around 4 p.m. First post is 12:30 p.m.
From the rail out the field is: Talco (Drayden Van Dyke), Lexie Lou (Corey Nakatani), Flamboyant (Mike Smith), Sawyer’s Hill (Rafael Bejarano), California Chrome (Victor Espinoza) and Cabral (Kent Desormeaux).
Asked about the post position, Sherman said: “Well, I won the Derby from the No. 5 hole, so that’s a lucky number for me.”
California Chrome is the only Hollywood Derby runner that has not raced on the grass. Special permission was granted for the Thursday morning exercise and only one other horse, Matriarch Stakes entrant La Tia, went over a turf course that was otherwise closed.
“I’m excited to see him run on the grass, it’s a different scenario for me,” Sherman said. “We should have a few Chromies (California Chrome fans) out here for it.”
Sherman’s early assessment of a likely race scenario: “It looks to me like there’s speed to the inside. I don’t think he’ll be far off the pace. If somebody wants the lead, they can have it. They can’t be going too slow, though; this time he’ll come away from there running.”