California Chrome back training after Santa Anita Derby romp

CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome jogged a mile Wednesday at Los Alamitos, his first day of training since a comprehensive win in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby last Saturday.

Judging by California Chrome’s behavior Wednesday, the Santa Anita Derby did not take its toll on the red-hot 3-year-old, who will make his next start May 3 in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

“He was full of himself,” trainer Art Sherman said. “He was ready to do something. He was bucking and playing. I was happy with the way he came out of the race.”

Sherman and his son, Alan, an assistant trainer, said that California Chrome has been much brighter in recent days compared to the days following his win March 8 in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita. Following that race, Art Sherman said that California Chrome needed more than a week to rebound from the effort.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

California Chrome will remain at Los Alamitos until the start of Kentucky Derby week. The colt is scheduled to be flown April 28 to Kentucky, allowing for workouts April 19 and 26 at Los Alamitos, Art Sherman said.

“I’ll do maintenance type of breezes,” he said. “That will be here. He’s fit. We can go in fresh. I can take him back there, and we can school in the paddock and school in the gate. I can gallop him a mile and a half or two miles.”

Owned by breeder Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, California Chrome has won his last four starts, all in stakes, including the King Glorious Stakes at Hollywood Park in December and the California Cup Derby at Santa Anita in January. The San Felipe and Santa Anita Derby have vaulted California Chrome to the fore of the nation’s 3-year-old division.

California Chrome, by Lucky Pulpit, has won 6 of 10 starts and earned $1,134,850.