California Chrome has first work toward Dubai World Cup

CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds Saturday at Los Alamitos, his first workout since a second to Shared Belief in the $590,900 San Antonio Stakes at Santa Anita and his first workout in the buildup to the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates on March 28.

Typical of his workouts in the last year at Los Alamitos, California Chrome had the track to himself for a few minutes shortly after the 8 a.m. renovation.

Ridden by jockey Victor Espinoza, California Chrome worked alone and was eager to begin the exercise. He broke away from a pony about 100 yards before the half-mile pole and was at a good speed when the workout officially began. Espinoza did not urge California Chrome through the stretch.

“I didn’t want to do anything crazy in his first work back,” Espinoza said. “It seems like he’s come out of the race good.”

Trainer Art Sherman timed California Chrome in 48 seconds.

“He actually worked like 4 1/2 [furlongs],” Sherman said. “He worked good. I wanted 48, and he nailed it right on.”

California Chrome was the 2014 Horse of the Year, a season in which he won the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in successive starts for owners Steve Coburn and Perry Martin. In November, California Chrome was third in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and won his final start of the year in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar on Nov. 29, his turf debut.

In the San Antonio Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 7, California Chrome led in early stretch but was caught by Shared Belief, who won by 1 1/2 lengths. California Chrome held second, finishing 6 1/2 lengths in front of Hoppertunity, the winner of the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes in January.

“I think he came up a little empty in the last 70 yards,” Sherman said of the San Antonio. “He got outrun, and I know he can do better. They were still 6 1/2 lengths in front of the third horse.”

Sherman is planning to give California Chrome four workouts at Los Alamitos before the colt departs for Dubai on March 17. Once at Meydan, California Chrome is likely to have a half-mile workout several days before the race.

“I’ll blow him out to get him used to the surface,” Sherman said.

California Chrome is expected to be favored to win the Dubai World Cup in American pari-mutuel pools. This weekend, British bookmakers are taking a different view. The bookmaker Coral has Toast of New York, the runner-up in the BC Classic as the 9-2 favorite, with California Chrome the 6-1 second choice.