California Chrome goes fast six furlongs in final work before San Pasqual

ARCADIA, Calif. – California Chrome stayed in the Santa Anita stable area during normal training hours Saturday morning.

When he finally went to the track at 11:45 a.m. for his final workout before the $200,000 San Pasqual Stakes on Jan. 9, California Chrome was ready. He worked six furlongs in 1:10.04, quicker than expected.

Trainer Art Sherman and his son and assistant, Alan, thought California Chrome would go in a time closer to 1:12. At the start of the workout, jockey Victor Espinoza said California Chrome was traveling so well that a quick workout was inevitable.

The 2014 Horse of the Year, California Chrome ran the opening quarter-mile in 23.65 seconds, reached the first half-mile in 46.66 seconds, and ran the final quarter-mile in 23.38 seconds. California Chrome worked alone.

“He did it easily today,” Espinoza said as he rode California Chrome back to the stables. “He’s ready.”

California Chrome was fitted with blinkers for the workout. He did not wear blinkers in a workout under Espinoza at Los Alamitos on Dec. 27. Espinoza said after that workout that California Chrome is more focused with blinkers.

Art Sherman said earlier this week that California Chrome is likely to race with blinkers in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes, which will be the 5-year-old’s first start since a second in the $10 million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates last March.

Owned by Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farms, California Chrome has won 9 of 18 starts and earned $6,322,650.

In Saturday’s workout, Espinoza said California Chrome was strong from the start.

“He went a little faster than I wanted, but I didn’t want to slow him down,” Espinoza said. “I wanted to let him go. When he started working, I thought he’d do his thing. The main thing was he was doing it easily and comfortably. It was an awesome work. I was looking forward to this work and that’s why I let him stretch his legs at the start.”

Alan Sherman said a lack of activity left California Chrome upset in his stall Saturday morning.

“He wasn’t real happy about it,” Alan Sherman said. “It was like, ‘What about me?’ He loves to train.”

At the start of the workout, Alan Sherman was surprised California Chrome was timed in 23.65 for the opening quarter-mile.

“It looked like he was going slower, which is a good thing,” he said.

California Chrome will be walked Sunday and is scheduled to jog Monday, Alan Sherman said. His training schedule for the rest of the week will be determined by weather. Rain is expected Tuesday and Wednesday, and Santa Anita could close its main track for training if significant rain occurs. In that case, Alan Sherman said California Chrome will exercise on the infield training track.

California Chrome will have as much activity as weather permits.

“He doesn’t need more than one day off,” Alan Sherman said.