California Chrome might start twice in Dubai in 2016

CYPRESS, Calif. – California Chrome, the 2014 Horse of the Year, worked a half-mile in 48.40 seconds at Los Alamitos on Saturday, continuing the buildup to a 2016 campaign that might include two starts in the United Arab Emirates.

Owners Perry Martin and Taylor Made Farm of Kentucky hope to start California Chrome in the $10 million Dubai World Cup at Meydan Racecourse on March 26. On Saturday, trainer Art Sherman said there is a possibility that California Chrome could be sent to Dubai earlier for a prep race at Meydan.

“If everything goes well, we could go over there before the Dubai World Cup,” he said. “He could be over there for almost two months.”

Sherman said he is using Curlin’s 2008 campaign as a blueprint. In that season, Curlin made his first start of the year in the $175,000 Jaguar Trophy Handicap at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai on Feb. 28 before winning the Dubai World Cup at that track a month later. The Dubai World Cup was held at Nad Al Sheba until 2009 before Meydan was built on adjacent property.

One potential prep race for California Chrome at Meydan could be the $400,000 Round Three of the Maktoum Challenge at 1 1/4 miles on dirt March 5. Sherman has mentioned the San Pasqual Stakes at Santa Anita on Jan. 9 as a possible first start of the year.

On Saturday, California Chrome was on the track before dawn, shortly after the Los Alamitos track opened for training at 5:30 a.m. Under exercise rider Dihigi Gladney, California Chrome was jogged slowly down the stretch and onto the backstretch before beginning the workout.
Exercising alone, California Chrome ran the first quarter-mile in 25.40 seconds, according to Los Alamitos clocker Russ Hudak. California Chrome finished strongly, running the final quarter-mile in 23 seconds.

Sherman timed California Chrome in 48.40 seconds and timed the gallop-out in 1:00.80 for five furlongs. The 4-year-old colt continued galloping strongly onto the backstretch after the workout.

“You can see the way he’s stretching out now,” Sherman said.

California Chrome returned to Sherman’s stable in early October, having spent the late summer at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky. Taylor Made bought a minority share of California Chrome from owner and breeder Steve Coburn during the summer. Martin, who bred California Chrome with Coburn, retains majority ownership.

Last March, California Chrome was second in the Dubai World Cup, his most recent start. He was sent to England in the spring for a start at Royal Ascot in June but did not start because of a bruised foot. California Chrome was later sent to Arlington Park in advance of the Arlington Million in August but was taken out of training in July because of bruising on a cannon bone.

A California-bred by Lucky Pulpit, California Chrome has won 9 of 18 starts and earned $6,322,650. In addition to his title as 2014 Horse of the Year, California Chrome was the champion 3-year-old male in 2014. During that season, his major wins were the Santa Anita Derby, Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Hollywood Derby.