California Chrome looks sharp in drill for Breeders' Cup Classic

ARCADIA, Calif. – Action toward the Breeders’ Cup two weeks hence picked up noticeably Saturday morning in Southern California, with California Chrome tuning up at Los Alamitos for the $6 million Classic on Nov. 5 while a pair of his potential challengers – Melatonin and Hoppertunity – were among those recording workouts here later in the morning at Santa Anita.

California Chrome put in a strong workout on Saturday, officially five furlongs in 1:00.40 under the lights. Per usual, he had the track to himself shortly after it opened at 5:30 a.m. and went solo, though trainer Art Sherman added blinkers for the work.

“I just wanted a decent work today,” Sherman said.

He got it. California Chrome went off slowly – track clocker Russell Hudak had his opening quarter in 25.20 seconds – but he flew home, with a final three-eighths in 35.20 and a final furlong in 11.80 seconds. He went out six furlongs in 1:13.

“He looked good. We’re in good shape,” said Sherman, who said California Chrome would again wear blinkers in his final workout next Saturday. “He’ll go three-quarters, and we’ll let him gallop out,” Sherman said.

California Chrome always wears blinkers in his races.

A little more than an hour later here at Santa Anita, Melatonin put in his most demanding drill for the Classic, which will be his first start in more than four months. He went one lap around the one-mile oval in 1:41.20 under his regular jockey, Joe Talamo.

“He’s been off for four months. I wanted to get some air in him,” said trainer David Hofmans. “He has natural speed. I’ve got to make sure he’s got enough air to go a mile and a quarter.”

Melatonin won the Santa Anita Handicap and Gold Cup at Santa Anita earlier this year.

“He’s doing really well. He loves this track,” Hofmans said.

Hofmans said Melatonin will have two more works before the Classic, including a half-mile breeze two days before the race.

“I did that before his other races, and it worked out well,” Hofmans said.

In contrast to Melatonin, Hoppertunity will be coming back four weeks after his victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The first of his two works in advance of the Classic was an easy half-mile timed in 47.80 seconds. Stewart Elliott was aboard for the work, but John Velazquez has the mount in the Classic.

Keith Desormeaux worked a trio of Breeders’ Cup prospects. With Honors, headed to the Juvenile Fillies, went six furlongs in 1:12.20, the fastest time of 19 at the distance. Flavien Prat was up.

Miss Southern Miss, headed to the Juvenile Fillies Turf, worked a half-mile in 48.80 seconds, while Dalmore, who could go in the Dirt Mile, went a half in 50.60 seconds.

Accelerate, who could go in the Dirt Mile, worked six furlongs in 1:13.40 for trainer John Sadler, who said he’s considering that race as well as the Twilight Derby on turf.

Jerry Hollendorfer sent out two Breeders’ Cup runners. Tara’s Tango, ticketed to the Filly and Mare Sprint, worked six furlongs in 1:13.80 under Rafael Bejarano, while Point Piper, who is in the Dirt Mile, went five furlongs in 1:01.80.

Hollendorfer was impressed with how well Tara’s Tango drilled.

“She worked really good,” he said. “She’s been doing particularly well.”

Two other Filly and Mare Sprint prospects, Finest City and Living The Life, worked five furlongs. Finest City, trained by Ian Kruljac, was given a time of 1:05.20, while Living The Life, trained by Gary Mandella, went in 1:01.20.

The unbeaten Gormley, a leading contender for the Juvenile, worked six furlongs in 1:14 under jockey Victor Espinoza while easing away from his company in the late stages.

Daddys Lil Darling, one of the early arrivals from the East, worked a half-mile in 47.40 seconds for trainer Kenny McPeek in preparation for the Juvenile Fillies.

More Eastern runners are set to arrive on Sunday, including Kiaran McLaughlin’s trio of Frosted (Classic), Tamarkuz (Dirt Mile), and Sentiero Italia (Filly and Mare Turf).

Among those scheduled to work Sunday is Gun Runner, who is under consideration for both the Dirt Mile and the Classic.

Pre-entries for all 13 Breeders’ Cup races are due Monday and will be announced on Wednesday.