California Chrome cranking up for San Antonio
CYPRESS, Calif. – Preparations for the 2015 season began in earnest for California Chrome on Thursday, when the star 3-year-old worked a half-mile in 48.20 seconds at Los Alamitos for the upcoming Santa Anita winter-spring meeting.
Trainer Art Sherman has targeted the $500,000 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita on Feb. 7 as the first start of the year for California Chrome, a leading candidate for the 2014 Horse of the Year title. California Chrome ended his 2014 season with an emphatic win in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 30.
On Thursday, California Chrome was ridden by exercise rider Anna Wells, who kept a firm hold throughout the workout. Sherman timed California Chrome in 48.60 seconds, galloping out strongly in 1:00.60 for five furlongs.
“He went faster galloping out,” Sherman said.
Sherman said California Chrome has been eager for exercise.
“He’s sharper than jailhouse coffee right now,” Sherman said. “He walks on his hind legs. It will be hard to keep him down.”
Sherman described Thursday’s workout as a maintenance work and conducted the exercise a few days earlier than expected to avoid rain expected later Thursday and into Friday.
“I am glad I worked him today,” Sherman said. “I can walk him for a couple of days.”
There are more than eight weeks to the San Antonio Stakes, which Sherman said will give him ample time to adjust California Chrome’s workouts should Southern California have a wet winter.
“Every week we’ll give him a breeze,” Sherman said.
Owned by breeders Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, California Chrome has won 9 of 16 starts and earned $4,222,650. Earlier this year, he won three consecutive Grade 1 races – the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, and Preakness Stakes – before finishing fourth in the Belmont Stakes in an attempt to sweep the Triple Crown.
California Chrome was third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1, beaten a neck by the winner, Bayern, another contender for the Horse of the Year title.