After high-mileage run, California Chrome still gleams

ELMONT, N.Y. – For a horse who already has made 12 starts, has been in steady racing and training for more than a year, has won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, and will be racing at his fourth track in four states in his last four starts Saturday, California Chrome looks like he’s held up remarkably well as he prepares for a Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes.

California Chrome went back to the track Monday morning here at Belmont Park for the first time since his sharp final workout Saturday morning. He merely jogged once around Monday under exercise rider Willie Delgado and was so fresh afterward at the barn that Delgado remarked, “He’s trying to eat me up,” as he walked him.

California Chrome’s chestnut coat is gleaming. Most notably, though, he doesn’t appear to have lightened up during this campaign, which has seen him win six straight races, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

“He’s holding his weight really good,” Alan Sherman, the son and assistant of trainer Art Sherman, said Monday.

Alan Sherman said he has not weighed California Chrome recently but said he has measured his girth. He said it was 71 1/2 inches after the Derby and is now 72 3/4 inches, a sure sign that he has put on weight.

“I’d say since the Derby, he’s put on 30 pounds,” Sherman said.

California Chrome will have to carry 126 pounds, including jockey Victor Espinoza, once around the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Park oval in the Belmont Stakes, which has a purse of $1.5 million. As of Monday, there were 12 challengers still under consideration to face California Chrome, though that number could be reduced to 10 – making a field of 11 – because both Kid Cruz and Social Inclusion remain iffy.

Social Inclusion, third last time out in the Preakness, had been under consideration by owner Ron Sanchez for three races Saturday, including the Belmont. But after a disappointing experience at the gate Monday morning, Social Inclusion is now most likely to run in the $500,000 Woody Stephens at seven furlongs, which also is for 3-year-olds. Sanchez has ruled out the Met Mile against older horses.

“I’d say it’s 70-30 Woody Stephens,” said Sanchez, who added that he wouldn’t make a final decision until Wednesday, which is entry day for both races.
Social Inclusion, trained by Manny Azpurua, acted up at the gate Monday to the point where his connections are required to bring him back to school again Wednesday. According to Sanchez, Social Inclusion acted up a little bit the first time he loaded but went in okay. The second time, he got very nervous and became difficult to load.

“To tell you the truth, we were disappointed,” Sanchez said. “I wasn’t expecting that.”

Sanchez noted that with the Belmont starting in front of the grandstand, Social Inclusion could possibly become unglued at the starting gate. The Woody Stephens starts on the backside, far from what is expected to be a massive crowd of more than 100,000.

Trainer Linda Rice said a decision on the status of Kid Cruz likely would be made Tuesday. Kid Cruz was eighth in the Preakness.

One longshot who was confirmed for the race Monday was Matterhorn, who was fourth behind Belmont prospects Tonalist and Commissioner in the Peter Pan Stakes here May 10. Matterhorn was purchased privately last month by a partnership headed by Eclipse Thoroughbreds, though he remains with his original trainer, Todd Pletcher.

Aron Wellman, the president of Eclipse, said Joe Bravo would ride Matterhorn in the Belmont. Bravo rode the Eclipse-owned Danza to a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, but Danza is getting a freshening in Florida and is not running in the Belmont.

The defection of a horse like Danza is another example of how difficult it is to get to the point where California Chrome finds himself. Many horses have dropped away this spring – and only two others, General a Rod and Ride On Curlin, will compete in all three legs of the Triple Crown – yet California Chrome has continued to progress.

“He thrives on training and running,” Sherman said. “He loves it. He’s been training and running since March. Most horses would be wiped out, sulking at the back of their stall. He eats up every night.”

Entries for the Belmont are due early Wednesday morning, and the field will be drawn during a 30-minute telecast shown live on MSG+ beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern.

In addition to California Chrome, Commissioner, General a Rod, Matterhorn, Ride On Curlin, and Tonalist, others certain to be entered in the Belmont are Commanding Curve, Matuszak, Medal Count, Samraat, and Wicked Strong.

Pletcher trains both Commissioner and Matterhorn. He is the only trainer with multiple entries in this year’s Belmont. Pletcher has won the Belmont twice, including with Palace Malice last year.

Commanding Curve (second), Wicked Strong (fourth), Samraat (fifth), and Medal Count (eighth) all chased California Chrome in the Kentucky Derby and then bypassed the Preakness to point for the Belmont.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day at Belmont Park on Monday, with clear skies, 60 degrees for training, and a high of 77 in the afternoon. The Weather Channel forecast called for more humidity and afternoon thunderstorms midweek but temperatures Friday and Saturday in the upper 70s, with only a small chance of rain.

– additional reporting by David Grening