California Chrome back home from Kentucky

CYPRESS, Calif.- Chrome’s home.

California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year and the winner of the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 26, returned to trainer Art Sherman’s stable at Los Alamitos late Sunday afternoon after a flight from Kentucky.

The popular 5-year-old spent most of April at Taylor Made Farms in Nicholasville, Ky., resting after the Dubai World Cup.

“I think he looks good,” Sherman said. “It’s good to have him back, like an old friend. Now, he’s home.”

Sherman said that California Chrome will begin jogging on Tuesday morning after walking at the barn on Monday. California Chrome will be pointed for the $200,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 23, a prep for the $1 million Pacific Classic at that track on Aug. 20.

The $6 million winner’s share of the Dubai World Cup made California Chrome the richest North American-based Thoroughbred, with career earnings of $12,532,650. California Chrome has won 12 of 21 starts, including the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2014.

Sunday, California Chrome was flown from Kentucky to Ontario International Airport, about 45 miles east of Los Alamitos, and was vanned to the Orange County racetrack. Frank Taylor, who co-owns California Chrome with breeder Perry Martin, accompanied California Chrome on the flight.

Taylor said California Chrome was a popular attraction at the farm in recent weeks.

“He never had a bad day,” Taylor said. “He probably had 1,000 fans come by.”

Taylor said that California Chrome gained 90 pounds in his 28-day stay and that the horse spent many nights outdoors.

“We got him out as much as we could,” he said. “We had him out all night when it wasn’t stormy. He was out for probably 15 nights.”

California Chrome’s 2-year-old full-sister is in training with Doug O’Neill, according to co-owner Steve Coburn and O’Neill. Coburn bred California Chrome with Martin and was a minority owner until the summer of 2015 when Taylor Made acquired his share.

Coburn was at Santa Anita on Sunday morning to watch the 2-year-old filly exercise. The filly, R Sunday Surprise, will be owned by a partnership called Silver State Racing, which includes Coburn.

Coburn said that he and Martin are no longer partners on any horses, but that he and his wife, Carolyn, remain California Chrome fans. He said dissolving their partnership “was best for everything.”

California Chrome “is still a fantastic horse. Even though we don’t own him, he’s a big part of our lives. We’ll go to every race we can.”