California Chrome gets serious in work for World Cup

CYPRESS, Calif. – Trainer Art Sherman got what he wanted from California Chrome on Friday morning here at Los Alamitos, a brisk, hard workout that Sherman believes will have California Chrome at his best for the Dubai World Cup on March 28.

California Chrome was officially timed in 1:23.80 for seven furlongs under exercise rider Anna Wells, after which Sherman said, “I’m kind of pumped up now.”

“He’s ready for Dubai,” Sherman said. “I was very impressed.”

California Chrome, per usual when he works here, had the track all to himself shortly after the renovation break around 8 a.m. Jogging while accompanied by a pony, he backtracked from the gap at the quarter pole all the way around to the wire, where he turned around and had an abbreviated run-up to the six-furlong pole, where the work commenced.

Russell Hudak, the head clocker at Los Alamitos, caught California Chrome going 23.60 seconds for his opening quarter. He picked it up on the far turn, with a 23-second second quarter for a half-mile split of 46.60, then he continued on to reach five furlongs in 58.20 seconds and six furlongs in 1:10.20, meaning he came the quarter-mile through the stretch in 23.60 seconds.

Hudak had California Chrome galloping out a mile in 1:38.20. Sherman watched the work from the grandstand and was relaying the splits to Wells via radio throughout the drill.

“That was pretty cool,” Sherman said. “He should be ready now. I wanted a good, strong work. That’s what you need to run against the best horses in the world. You can’t come up empty going a mile and a quarter.”

California Chrome won the Kentucky Derby and was a close third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in his only two tries at 1 1/4 miles.

“He’s got to be completely fit,” Sherman said. “There’s no Lasix, no Bute. You’ve got to be at your best.”

Wells has worked California Chrome since he finished second to Shared Belief in the San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita last month. That was the only start California Chrome – last year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner – has had since being named Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old male of 2014. Sherman was concerned that jockey Victor Espinoza, who is California Chrome’s regular rider, was being too tentative in workouts.

“Two works out from the San Antonio was brutal,” Sherman said. “I was quite upset, and Victor said he thought he messed up. To run against Shared Belief, you’ve got to be at your best. I didn’t think Victor was letting him do enough.

“I’m not saying we’d have beaten Shared Belief. He’s the real McCoy. But with Anna, I can keep in touch with her on the radio, tell her to adjust during the work if we need to.”

There was no need on Friday. All Sherman did was relay the fractions to Wells. There was no point where he told her to speed up or slow down.

California Chrome is scheduled to leave California for Dubai early Tuesday morning. After arriving in Dubai, he is scheduled to have one workout at Meydan prior to the race. Alan Sherman, Art’s son and top assistant, will leave on Monday to be in Dubai when California Chrome arrives. Art and his wife, Faye, travel to Dubai on March 22.

Sherman said that owners Perry Martin and Steve Coburn were scheduled to go to the World Cup.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Sherman said. “No matter what happens, it’s going to be an experience. It’s a great challenge. And I like to travel. Faye and I have been all over Europe. We’ve been to Spain, England, Greece. It’ll be nice to see Dubai.”

Sherman said he was eager to check out all the first-class amenities on Emirates Airlines.

“I’ve never been on an airplane with a shower before,” he said.

Beholder works six furlongs

At Santa Anita on Friday, two-time Eclipse Award winner Beholder moved closer to her 2015 debut with a six-furlong work in 1:14 for trainer Richard Mandella, who has said that the Madison Stakes at Keeneland on April 4 is her intended comeback race.

In addition, El Camino Real Derby winner Metaboss worked six furlongs in 1:14.80 for trainer Jeff Bonde in preparation for the Spiral Stakes at Turfway on March 21.