California Chrome, Beholder, Songbird put in works

CYPRESS, Calif. – The popular champions Beholder, California Chrome, and Songbird had workouts at Los Alamitos and Santa Anita early Saturday in preparation for races at the end of this month.

California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, worked a mile in 1:39.60 at Los Alamitos at dawn. The winner of the Dubai World Cup on March 26, California Chrome is scheduled to start in the $200,000 San Diego Handicap at Del Mar on July 23.

At about the same time at Santa Anita, Songbird, the undefeated champion 2-year-old filly of 2015, breezed six furlongs in 1:13.40. A winner of eight races, Songbird’s next start will be the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 23.

Later in the morning at Santa Anita, Beholder, the champion older female of 2015, worked seven furlongs in 1:26.20. She is on schedule for the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on July 30.

California Chrome worked in company with stablemate Mishegas, a 3-year-old nominated for the $100,000 Oceanside Stakes at Del Mar on Friday. California Chrome began the workout about four lengths behind Mishegas and was hard held by exercise rider Dihigi Gladney early.

Trailing by two lengths on the turn, California Chrome caught Mishegas with a quarter-mile to go but did not immediately pass his stablemate. That did not satisfy trainer Art Sherman.

When California Chrome ran past a viewing stand where Sherman was watching the workout, Sherman screamed to Gladney, ‘Let him go.’ ” California Chrome pulled in front of Mishegas in the stretch and galloped out several lengths in front.

Los Alamitos clockers timed California Chrome in 1:27.60 for seven furlongs.

“I wanted to get a good workout,” Sherman said. “This will put him on fire. Wait till you see him in the afternoon, it’s quite a difference.”

California Chrome will be shipped to Del Mar on Wednesday and will have his final workout before the San Diego there on July 16.

Owned by Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farm, California Chrome has won 12 of 21 starts. He is the richest North American-based Thoroughbred in history with earnings of $12,532,650.

Songbird worked alone. She galloped out seven furlongs in 1:26 and a mile in 1:39, according to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer.

“She was slow early and gradually picked it up,” he said. “She galloped out really nicely.”

Hollendorfer moved the work to dawn to take advantage of cool conditions at Santa Anita.

Owned by Rick Porter, Songbird won the Grade 2 Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita on June 18 in her most recent start. She was scheduled to be shipped to Del Mar on Saturday and will be based there until departing for Saratoga in the days before the July 23 race.

Beholder worked in company with a stablemate, starting several lengths behind and finishing in front. Trained by Richard Mandella for B. Wayne Hughes, Beholder won the Grade 1 Vanity Mile at Santa Anita in her last start June 4. She will be a heavy favorite in the Clement Hirsch.

“I wish I could run her next week,” Mandella said.