California Chrome, Bayern put in strong works

One hour and 35 miles apart, Bayern and California Chrome, the two leading contenders for the 2014 Horse of the Year honor, recorded flashy workouts Saturday in advance of an expected showdown in the $500,000 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 7.

California Chrome, who won the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Nov. 29 in his last start, worked six furlongs in 1:12.60 at Los Alamitos. Bayern, who won the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, a race in which California Chrome was third, worked five furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:00.40.

California Chrome worked shortly after 8 a.m. and was on the track by himself for several minutes. Ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, California Chrome broke off from a pony well before the six-furlong pole at a brisk pace. He was well within hand entering the long Los Alamitos stretch while breezing off the rail. Through the final furlong, Espinoza did not urge California Chrome.

“He’s not letting him go,” trainer Art Sherman said of Espinoza. “He looks like he’s galloping.”

Sherman timed California Chrome in 1:13, while his assistant and son, Alan, timed the workout in 1:12.60. California Chrome has had four workouts since returning to serious training following the Hollywood Derby on turf.

Art Sherman said he has seen sufficient progress from California Chrome on a week-by-week basis that potential wet weather in January would not disrupt preparation for the San Antonio Stakes over 1 1/8 miles.

“We’ve got four weeks,” he said. “Let me get a couple of key works in him, and it won’t make a difference. We’ll be strong for the race. Everything is effortless right now. He’s been so strong down the lane. He goes about two miles a day [galloping]. We’ve got a lot of air in him.”

California Chrome has won 9 of 16 starts and earned $4,222,650 for owners Steve Coburn and Perry Martin.

Bayern worked shortly after 9 a.m. and was part of a large group of horses training at the same time. Working alone, Bayern was eager at the start of the workout under little urging from jockey Martin Garcia.

Trainer Bob Baffert timed Bayern galloping six furlongs in 1:13.20. Via walkie-talkie, Baffert coached Garcia to ride Bayern to the line in the final strides.

“I like the way he went,” Baffert said later.

Baffert has not committed to running Bayern in the San Antonio Stakes, leaving open the possibility of a start in the $500,000 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park the same day.

Bayern is unbeaten in three starts at Santa Anita, including a maiden race and an allowance race in early 2014, and has never run at Gulfstream Park. Owned by Kaleem Shah, Bayern has won six of 10 starts and earned $4,389,680.