California Chrome drills for Breeders' Cup Classic

CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome on Saturday morning at Los Alamitos began his serious work in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, going a half-mile in 48 seconds in the first of three drills trainer Art Sherman has planned prior to the $6 million Classic on Nov. 5 at Santa Anita.

California Chrome two weeks ago won the Awesome Again Stakes in his final prep for the Classic. Sherman wanted an easy work on Saturday, something to get started, and California Chrome was eager to go.

“He was in trouble going to the pole,” Sherman said, referring to exercise rider Dahigi Gladney. “He was bent double.”

Gladney was able to get California Chrome to go off slowly and finish strongly, and he appeared to have plenty of horse under him. California Chrome covered his first quarter in 24.80 seconds and three furlongs in 36.60 seconds before galloping out five furlongs in 1:01, all those times according to this track’s head clocker, Russell Hudak. So, he went his final quarter of the work in 23.20 seconds and the final furlong in 11.40.

Sherman had California Chrome going faster, a half-mile in 47.20 seconds.

”I got that sellin’ watch,” he joked.

Per usual, the track was opened at 5:30 a.m. only for California Chrome. Other horses were allowed on the track as soon as he finished his breeze.

Sherman was thrilled with the way California Chrome trained.

“It was a really nice work,” Sherman said. “He looked awful nice this morning. Just got to keep him like this for a couple of weeks and we'll be ready for action.”

California Chrome is the 7-5 favorite for the Classic on the future line of Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form’s national handicapper. He is unbeaten in six starts this year and is the overwhelming front-runner to be named Horse of the Year, a title he earned at age 3 in 2014.

The preparation for this race will mirror what California Chrome has done in all his California races this year. He will work every Saturday morning, with the final work one week prior to the Classic, then head to Santa Anita six days before the race. Sherman said next Saturday’s work would be more demanding, but he’s not going to pound works into him.

“I just wanted something light today to keep him fresh. Next week, I’ll let him gallop out a little more,” Sherman said. “If he’s not fit now, he’ll never be.”