BC Clocker: California Chrome works well with blinkers

Los Alamitos
Track: Fast Weather: Clear Temp.: 58

Santa Anita
Track: Fast Weather: Clear Temp.: 62

ARCADIA, Calif. - The majority of the Breeders’ Cup works on the West Coast on Saturday came at Santa Anita, the host site for this year’s event. But the most noteworthy took place about 30 miles down the road, at Los Alamitos, where CALIFORNIA CHROME put in his most serious work yet in preparation for his role as the overwhelming favorite in this year’s Classic.

Working, as usual, under the lights at 5:30 a.m., California Chrome went five furlongs in 59.99 with his regular exercise rider Dihigi Gladney aboard. He galloped out six panels in 1:13.23.

Trainer Art Sherman tipped his hand as to the seriousness of this particular work by equipping California Chrome with blinkers, which is not standard fare for his star in the morning. Gladney let California Chrome ease away from the five-eighths pole through a 25.42 opening quarter and a 36.99 three-eighths split. The pace quickened noticeably at that point, “Chrome” responding to some light urging to complete his final quarter in :23 while finishing with his ears pinned at the wire.

This was the first time I’ve seen California Chrome work since the week of the 2014 Belmont, when he turned in a sensational final drill before finishing a disappointing fourth behind Tonalist in his quest to complete a sweep of the Triple Crown. While this morning’s breeze wasn’t quite that impressive, it was still solid enough and a sign that California Chrome continues to maintain his top form just two weeks out from the main event.

Two other Classic hopefuls, MELATONIN and HOPPERTUNITY, followed later at Santa Anita, where the track was definitely on the slow and cuppy side. Melatonin was the first to go, breezing a mile in 1:41.51, going out in 52.21 before completing his final half-mile in 49.30. Melatonin was nudged along a couple of times from the top of the stretch to the wire while leaning in a bit, his head cocked out slightly, at the end.
Hoppertunity breezed an easy half-mile in 47.80 in company, his final three-eighths in 35.62 while being urged just a tad to keep pace late with his well-held and lesser-accomplished partner. Hoppertunity galloped out in 1:01.

Other Breeders’ Cup workers on Saturday included:

WITH HONORS (Juvenile) broke 5-6 lengths behind stablemate Majestic Quality at the six-furlong marker, was prodded by his mate through a swift opening half-mile, pulled even in early stretch but seemed to hang some late, finishing just a head in front before losing ground on the gallop out.

POINT PIPER (Dirt Mile) also had a target, breaking 4-5 lengths behind his mate, was forced wide into the stretch after also hooking in with an unidentified Bob Baffert-trained worker for much of the drill. Point Piper ultimately edged a length clear of his partner without much urging while finishing on even terms with the well-held Baffert runner at the end.

GORMLEY (Juvenile) came away from the six-furlong pole in front of his mate, who then rushed a couple of lengths in front nearest the rail shortly thereafter. Gormley pulled even at the quarter pole and was edging clear at the wire, but under a good bit of urging while seeming to struggle at the end, completing his final quarter in :25.37 followed by just an average gallop out of nearly :14 into the turn.

TARA'S TANGO (Filly and Mare Sprint) finished well over the tiring track when set down by Rafael Bejerano, completing the final quarter of a 1:01.59 five-eighths drill in 24.18 before galloping out with nice energy, six furlongs in 1:14.29.

LIVING THE LIFE (Filly and Mare Sprint) worked immediately after the final renovation break and cruised five furlongs under a fairly motionless Flavien Prat in 36.4, 1:01.25, but eased up pretty quickly on the gallop out.

FINEST CITY (Filly and Mare Sprint) went during the rush and appeared to be doing little more than open galloping, officially timed five furlongs in 1:05.20 while kept well off the rail turning for home and down the stretch.

MISS SOUTHERN MISS (Juvenile Fillies Turf) took a big run to the pole, showed good speed into the stretch, posting a 23.60 opening quarter, before weakening to the wire completing her half-mile in 49.01.

DADDY'S LITTLE DARLING (Juvenile Fillies) went during the rush, looked full of run down the backstretch, continued willingly enough down the lane while displaying the action of a filly who might ultimately be at her best on grass.

KITKAT (Turf) left the pole running, working well after the rush over a dull and by then cut-up track. He posted a swift opening quarter split in 23.30, leaned out some coming off the bend, and was weakening at the wire. He seemed to be making some noise as he completed a half-mile in 47.69 with very little left on the gallop-out.

TWENTYTWENTYVISION (Mile) hooked in with some unexpected company on the turn, fanned about four paths wide off the turn, then edged clear to the wire without any real urging.