California Chrome given private training window at Los Alamitos

Santa Anita Derby winner California Chrome will have his own training time at Los Alamitos for the next few weeks in the buildup to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3.

Track officials have dedicated 7:10 to 7:30 a.m. for California Chrome’s daily exercise. The decision was reached after a loose horse was on the track at the same time as California Chrome on Saturday morning, causing anxious moments.

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The policy was put into place beginning on Sunday, when California Chrome was galloped two miles, according to Alan Sherman, assistant and son of trainer Art Sherman.

“He was looking around there like, ‘Where is everybody?’” Alan Sherman said.

Los Alamitos conducts training for Thoroughbreds that race at Santa Anita, as well as Quarter Horses and lower-level Thoroughbreds that race at the track during the year-round night meeting. Los Alamitos will host daytime Thoroughbred meetings in July and December this year during racing dates previously held by Hollywood Park, which closed last December.

California Chrome is scheduled to have half-mile workouts at Los Alamitos on the next two Saturdays before being shipped to Churchill Downs on April 28.

Owned by Steve Coburn and Perry Martin, California Chrome has won 6 of 10 starts and earned $1,134,850.